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Category: make-a-thek

make-a-thek

From Industrial Memories to a Circular Future for Heritage Craft, Textile Production and Fashion Design

Written by Geraldine de Bastion

Reflections from the make-a-thek Central Eastern European Study Tour The EU-funded make-a-thek project integrates modular makerspaces into public libraries to promote circular approaches to fashion and craft. In June 2026, we conducted our first make-a-thek study tour through Germany, Czechia, and Poland to explore regional circularity practices and build long-term collaborations.  During this tour, we … Continue reading “From Industrial Memories to a Circular Future for Heritage Craft, Textile Production and Fashion Design”

make-a-thek

Make-A-Thek Community Call: Crafting Connected Communities

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

A sewing machine 300 metres from a refugee camp in northern Greece. A farmhouse in Alsace, dating from the end of the 17th century, with a bell that still calls people to communal dinner. A row of benches in Vilnius made from the demolished pillars of a Soviet-era trade union mansion. Three scenes, three countries, … Continue reading “Make-A-Thek Community Call: Crafting Connected Communities”

Environment

Local Hubs, Global Impact: The Blueprint for a Sustainable Fashion Revolution

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

The fashion industry has a waste problem. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is generated globally, while garment use has decreased by 36 percent since 2000, meaning clothes are being made faster and discarded sooner than ever before. Waste is built into the process from the start, where roughly 15% of fabric used … Continue reading “Local Hubs, Global Impact: The Blueprint for a Sustainable Fashion Revolution”

Education

Collective Movement & Community Participation in Fashion Revolution

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

Together with Fashion Revolution Germany and Circular Fashion Foundation Poland, GIG hosted a make-a-thek community call that brought together library practitioners and circular fashion advocates to explore how libraries can become meeting points that connect communities around advancing circular fashion. Our speakers included Ariane Piper (Fashion Revolution Germany e.V.) and Agata A. Zgliczynska (Fundacja Mody Cyrkularnej/ Fashion Revolution … Continue reading “Collective Movement & Community Participation in Fashion Revolution”

make-a-thek

Circularity in Asian Fashion and the future of the planet

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

Global Innovation Gathering and Fab City Foundation held a community call on January 21, 2026, focused on circularity in Asian textiles and fashion. The session was part of the make-a-thek project, funded by the European Horizon Europe programme. This project establishes maker spaces in libraries across Europe, connecting local initiatives to global sustainability goals and … Continue reading “Circularity in Asian Fashion and the future of the planet”

Events

Weaving Future Systems: Digital Fabrication, Biomaterials, and Traditional Knowledge in Latin America

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

(Spanish version below) The Global Innovation Gathering (GIG), through the Make-a-thek Community Call series supported by the EU Horizon framework, has been exploring how making culture can be embedded in libraries through fashion and extended into global contexts. The latest session focused on Latin America, highlighting sustainable practices at the intersection of digital fabrication, biomaterials, … Continue reading “Weaving Future Systems: Digital Fabrication, Biomaterials, and Traditional Knowledge in Latin America”

Events

Bridging Tradition and Innovation: A Glimpse into Sustainable Fashion with Make-a-thek Community Calls

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

The Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) recently hosted another insightful session as part of its Make-a-thek Community Calls, a series integral to the EU Horizon project “MAKE-a-thek”. This ambitious project aims to build and activate maker spaces within Europe’s library network, with a dedicated focus on sustainable fashion. These maker spaces are envisioned as vibrant community … Continue reading “Bridging Tradition and Innovation: A Glimpse into Sustainable Fashion with Make-a-thek Community Calls”

Events

Heritage Crafts and Sustainable Futures: Great learnings from the Community Call

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

The recent community call convened by Global Innovation Gathering as part of the make-a-thek project examined the relationship between heritage crafts, sustainability, and circularity across diverse contexts. The conversation centred on the work of practitioners in Ukraine and Iraq and explored the intersection of crafts with community identity, economic development, and mental health. It was … Continue reading “Heritage Crafts and Sustainable Futures: Great learnings from the Community Call”

Events

Insights from the Make-a-thek Community Call on Inclusive Fashion and Assistive Technology

Written by Ricardo Ruiz

The Make-a-thek Community Call on May 14, 2025, brought together experts and practitioners to discuss inclusive fashion and assistive technology. The session featured presentations from Sema Gedik, founder of Auf Augenhoehe, and Saad Chinoy, a maker and advocate for accessible design. Their work highlights the intersection of sustainability, inclusion, and innovation. Sema shared her journey, … Continue reading “Insights from the Make-a-thek Community Call on Inclusive Fashion and Assistive Technology”

make-a-thek

Make-a-thek launched!

Written by Kirstin Wiedow

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 … Continue reading “Make-a-thek launched!”