Pascale Gatzen and Otto von Busch are the Guest Editors of The Journal of Design Strategies Volume 7 titled Alternative Fashion Systems and containing the edited transcript of the presentation I gave at Parsons 3 years ago: “From Open Source Branding to Collaborative Clothing”. The following article is the letter from the editors, opening the Volume:
Il sistema dei Makers per Out of Fashion a WeMake
A meta’ gennaio (venerdi’ 16 e sabato 17) ospitiamo presso Wemake Makerspace un modulo di Out of Fashion, primo corso di formazione sulla cultura della moda consapevole, etica e innovativa. Oltre a esaminare l’ecosistema dei makers e il concetto di Brand open source sviluppato da Serpica Naro e continuato nel progetto Openwear, introdurro’ alle tecnologie di prototipazione rapida con un percorso teorico e pratico su lasercut e stampa 3d: Da una parte l’etica, dall’altra una nuova metodologia di lavoro a partire dalla tecnologia digitale come opportunità per il sistema della moda. Verrà affrontato il concetto di brand dai codici aperti e le potenzialità di un’evoluzione verso una nuova prospettiva del lavoro nella moda fondata sulla condivisione, la collaborazione e l’innovazione. Dal brand open source alla digital fabrication, passando per l’ecosistema di Makers e alcuni esempi di imprese creative con obiettivi e finalità fuori dagli schemi di start-up classica. Workshop pratici di prototipazione e produzione on demand sull’utilizzo della lasercut e dei comandi di
Shaping the Future of Digital Social Innovation in Europe
In 2013 I was invited by Nesta to join the Advisory Group to advise on a major new policy study on digital social innovation in Europe. The study has been looking at grassroots civic innovation enabled by the internet, and at how social innovation is being enabled by the “network effect” of the Internet and new open innovation models. The study has been run by Nesta, in partnership with the WAAG Society (NL), ESADE (SP), IRI (FR), and Future Everything (UK) and it has been exploring how emerging technologies in the digital economy can transform society by the mobilisation of collective action, enable a more collaborative economy, new ways of making, citizen participation, sustainability and social innovation. In February I’ll be in Brussels to discuss lessons from the 18-month research and the future of DSI in Europe.
Journal of peer production on Shared Machine Shops
Reflecting on the real impact of Maker Movement and next steps in the Journal of Peer Production Issue #5: Despite the marketing clangour of the “maker movement”, shared machine shops are currently “fringe phenomena” since they play a minor role in the production of wealth, knowledge, political consensus and the social organisation of life. Interestingly, however, they also prominently share the core transformations experienced in contemporary capitalism. That is, for the individual: the convergence of work, labour and other aspects of life. Moreover, on a systemic level: the rapid development of algorithmically driven technical systems and their intensifying role in social organisation. Finally, as a corollary: the practical and legitimation crisis of modern institutions, echoed by renewed attempts at self-organisation. Contribution by various protagonists of the makers’ scene. Here’s the executive summary: Shared Machine Shops are not new. Fab Labs are not about technology. Sharing is not happening. Hackerspaces are not open. Technology is not neutral. Hackerspaces are not solving
read more Journal of peer production on Shared Machine Shops
Exchanging ideas on open fashion and tech at MeshCon: podcasts are online!
How to reap the benefits of participatory production in the textile industry was the topic of the first edition of MeshCon taking place in Berlin last October from 10 to 15, 2014: We are developing concepts and Free and Open Source technologies for fair and environment friendly production of garments and textiles at home and in the industry. MeshCon Berlin brings together industry representatives, fashion designers, pattern creators, knitters, textile manipulators, FOSS developers and DIY hardware makers. The event offers a place to exchange new ideas in personalized fashion and technologies in the garment production. I was invited to give a talk, but I couldn’t travel in those days. I suggest to listen to the recorded files in 13 podcasts of the event, and especially: Open Tools for Computational Craft Glitchaus Project: Between pixel art, textile design, and digital techniques with knitting machines Digital Patternmaking with Project Valentina on PCs
ZOESCOPE 