Written by In February, GIG Kickstarted its new project, make-a-thek, together with nine organisations from 7 countries as consortium partners. make-a-thek will support libraries in creating modular makerspaces for circular fashion and crafts.
In this first project phase, GIG is actively working on compiling a 200-strong open resource repository covering open hardware, software, education and technologies in the circular economy, craft and fashion segments. Our research will continue to inform the libraries about setting up new activities and makerspaces around circular and sustainable fashion and crafts.
THIS MONTH WE ARE SHARING SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE FINDS:
Are you keen to try your hand at designing your clothes? RepSketch, a vector design tool for fashion, has brought open-source principles into the fashion industry. RepSketch offers a community-driven library of templates, technical sketches, and design resources. Designers of all skill levels can find, modify, and share fashion sketches, fostering an environment where everyone benefits from each other’s creativity.
Are you hosting a workshop and need a cool badge? The BitBadge is a simple LED badge that has been built at many festivals around the world. Everyone loves it because it is so simple yet so creative. The small SMD top LEDs are placed like little jewellery on the grid of the circuit board and then reflow soldered in an oven. The design was released in the public domain, and many variations have emerged.
Ready to pimp your workshop space? The Open Lab Starter Kit equips makerspaces with affordable and reproducible Open Source Machine Tools, tackling challenges like high initial investments, vendor lock-ins, and maintenance issues. It ensures accessibility even in regions with limited machines or spare parts availability.
How about starting your community mini-library? The Little Free Library model is basically “take a book, return a book”, where you can take whatever books you want out and return the same one when you’re done or add a new book to the free library collection. Little Free Library is a nonprofit organisation with a mission to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book-exchange boxes.
Do you have any cool open source hardware or software to share? Get in touch with Kirstin if you would like to share it! GIG will host two online community calls in the next few months, and we look forward to engaging with many of you during the three-year project term.
Stay tuned for more!
