‘Collective Movements’ explores the power of radical togetherness—of belonging not as a static state, but as an active, co-creative force. It speaks to the richness born from communal working, the intensity of exchange, and the weaving of a multitude of voices into a shared fabric.
Here, movement is more than motion—it is the activation of alternative perspectives and the materialization of counter-spaces, it relates to the choreographies of process, repetition and making. These movements exist in places where the private meets the public, where we make noise out of collective urgency, and where making becomes political.
Together, ‘Collective Movements’ ask us to consider how we move, who we move with, and what we move for—how practices of fashion become acts of connection and resistance.
"Curatorial statement:
‘Collective Movements’ is a fashion exhibition that highlights projects and platforms rooted in collaboration, activism, and community co-creation. It brings together collectives, grassroot initiatives, and designers working with communities to explore fashion as a tool for connection and resistance.
WHO The exhibition prioritizes collectives, platforms and co-creation projects whose work reside in activistic spheres and directly work with the communities they aim to be a voice for. We therefore encourage fashion practitioners/ fashion practices to respond to the open call who work with/are activist groups, grassroot organizations and co-creation communities.
While the focus is not on individual designers, they are welcome to apply if they can clearly demonstrate how their practice aligns with community-centred co-creation and activism. — this may therefore me a good question to ask in the open call.
We also welcome applications from activist groups who use fashion-related practices in protest—such as making textile banners or incorporating performative dress in demonstrations. As curators, we will additionally reach out to such groups directly.
WHAT Additionally, we are interested in showcasing the process that comes with this specific territory of participatory and activistic design practice. Beyond showcasing the physical results of these practices (garments, photography, publications, protest-banners, etc.), we wish to show process-based work that gives insight into the behind-thescenes of participatory and activistic design practices—think of film/photography documentaries narrating how
a collective has worked with a specific community, live activations of community gatherings, co-creation workshops, research archives, etc. In short, Collective Movements aims to curate a selection of work and organizations that sit at the intersection of fashion design, activism, and communal practices. It aims “[t]o weave in cultural practices, rituals, ceremonies, and knowledge systems based on collaboration rather then domination. To become accomplices to the mycelial networks that sustain life ways.”
