Textiles are one of the oldest technologies that allowed humans to protect themselves in prehistoric times. Because it is omnipresent and has become so cheap, it is now discredited. Its production is underrated and invisibilized. Its overconsumption leads to an ecological, economic and social disaster. It looks like the world has already produced enough textiles for the entire planet…

The Future of Living — Rethread the Needle will readdress textile through contemporary practices, digital tools and machineries. Is there such a thing as “permacouture”? Can we create non-hegemonic narratives and new possible futures by reclaiming the knowledge from traditional methods of production?

Can we think of alternative production processes that meet our needs, while showing a true commitment with the great eco-social challenges that we are facing?

Experts from the EUNIC participating countries will help us approach some of these questions and contribute to the 4 following threads:

1. Traditional crafts × digital
2. Biomaterials
3. Zero-waste & upcycling
4. Clothing for healthcare

Green Fabric and iMAL offer a theoretical and practical program of four worksessions open to the public —on December 6th and 7th— that will take place in their respective fablabs. These four worksessions, led by several teams of artists and creators, will revolve around the four threads described above.

They will conclude with a presentation day at iMAL on Sunday, December 8th, during which each of the 4 teams will show both the processes and the results achieved in the laboratories. The microphone will then be open to the public for Q&A. After this exchange, EUNIC invited speakers will present their work through keynotes and participate in panel discussions around the four threads.

Full programme and information at https://www.thefutureofliving.eu/

The worksessions will be documented and the presentations on the last day will be streamed. A brunch with the invited artists/designers will precede the prensentations.

Worksessions: 70€ for 2 days (lunch included) – 35€ for students, unemployed

Talks: free of charge (optional brunch: 8€)