Creativity and Collaboration in Fashion Education
Andrea Cammarosano, who is a member of the Crafting Futures team as action researcher, has published his new book called ‘CLU++ER: Creativity + Collaboration in Fashion Education’. The book is the result of his PhD research at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and ARIA/UAntwerp which focuses on the relational dynamics between creativity, making, material expertise and craftsmanship in fashion design and education.
Andrea’s exploration began at the Royal Academy of Arts Antwerp and expanded over four years to include two other leading institutions: HEAD–Genève, Haute école d’art et de design, in Geneva and NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, in Milan. An elaborate inquiry on craft and materials was made possible through a partnership with Gruppocinque, a textile company recognized for its creative approach.
About the book
Fashion is a mix of the tangible and the intangible: it brings together craftsmanship and material expertise with storytelling and imagination. In this process, the role of the individual and the group are interconnected. One person’s creativity influences others, leading to a multiplicative process.
In this book, designer and educator Andrea Cammarosano examines how these dynamics can be applied to education. While fashion education often focuses on individual expression, collaborative processes and group creativity can broaden perspectives, fostering systems of collective creation. The book proposes that skill-training and craft — foundations of tangible creation in fashion— can act as tools to connect personal discovery with collective imagination.
The book presents a collection of artworks made during workshops and educational activities, as well as manuals and practical ideas for building education programs focused on craft and creativity. Equally included are conversations with crafters, educators, and textile industry professionals, such as designers Walter Van Beirendonck and Lutz Huelle, and Sara Sozzani Maino, Creative Director at Fondazione Sozzani and International New Talent & Brands Ambassador for Camera Nazionale Moda Italiana.
This publication is for anyone passionate about working with crafts and materials, and for people who want to use these skills to create strong and creative teams.
Book launch
On Saturday 29 March, MoMu Antwerp is organizing a book launch event where everyone is welcome. The book will be presented at the MoMu Library from 13h onwards. Between 16h and 17h, Andrea Cammarosano will engage in a talk with Johan Pas and Walter Van Beirendonck.
‘CLU++ER: Creativity + Collaboration in Fashion Education’ is the result of Andrea Cammarosano’s PhD research at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and ARIA/UAntwerp, and is published by Track Report / Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, in collaboration with HEAD–Genève, Haute École des Arts et Design (Geneva, CH), and NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (Milan, IT), with the support of Gruppocinque Luxury Fabrics and MoMu – ModeMuseum Antwerp.
Links to order it can be found on the Royal Academy’s pages.
