Open Call

FASHIONCLASH Festival 2025

New fashion narratives

Residency/ trajectory

Continuing the positive experiences in 2023 and 2024, FASHIONCLASH is looking for 4 fashion practitioners* to collaborate on the development of the co-curatorial concept for a multimedia exhibition, presented at Bureau Europa, for FASHIONCLASH Festival 2025 (14-16 November).

The trajectory starts with a 4-day residency in Maastricht from 15-18 April 2025. New Fashion Narratives is an initiative of FASHIONCLASH organized in the context of the FASHIONCLASH research program and has been a permanent part of the FASHIONCLASH activity program for a number of years. It has always been presented in the form of an exhibition during the annual FASHIONCLASH Festival in Maastricht.

In both 2023 and 2024, a short documentary was created to document the trajectory, including experiences from participants.

*FASHIONCLASH approaches fashion in the broadest sense of the word and meaning. This project is open to anyone who identifies themselves as a fashion practitioner, regardless of education and experience.

Why the New Fashion Narratives Trajectory?

With this project FASHIONCLASH aims to:

  • Explore new fashion presentation forms within a (fashion) festival framework and a potential role of a fashion platform in the future;

  • Explore what the current/new fashion narratives are and can be;

  • Explore alternative ways to create programs with targeted impact for both awareness and innovation of the discipline;

  • Explore how we can create a polyphonic exhibition program in which different stories, perspectives and working methods of the current generation of designers and artists are given a stage;

  • Provide an open and experimental space to a group of fashion practitioners, giving them the opportunity to broaden their artistic-, practice-, curatorial and collaborative skills;

  • Create a community of practice to share knowledge, perspectives and vision on how to contribute to a better and (fashion) world.

New Fashion Narratives Residency Week

The Residency Week takes place in Maastricht 15-18 April 2025. One of the main focuses for this week is on getting to know each other – the selected fashion practitioners and the members of team FASHIONCLASH, being together, and working together. The program consists of introductory sessions, brainstorms, work sessions, a location visit to Bureau Europa, walks, etc.  

The outcome of this Residency Week includes a curatorial statement and an action plan for the development of the exhibition at Bureau Europa for FASHIONCLASH Festival 2025. The phases following after the Residency Week have a hybrid character, with both physical and online meetings, leading to the final presentation.

Phases throughout the Trajectory

Phase 1: New Fashion Narratives Residency Week
The residency week takes place physically in Maastricht, The Netherlands. FASHIONCLASH team members will be present for coordination and discussion to support the co-creative process.

Phase 2: Elaboration of Concept & Selection (May – July 2025)
This phase includes the development of a full exhibition concept, launch of an Open Call for exhibition participants, the selection process of exhibition participants, and final elaboration in consultation with FASHIONCLASH.

Phase 3: Exhibition Preparation (September – November 2025)
This phase includes finalizing the exhibition; collecting PR materials, designing and executing the exhibition, and preparing additional program elements (if applicable). The final curatorial concept and action plan will be transferred to a Creative Producer of FASHIONCLASH for execution.

Phase 4: Presentation at FASHIONCLASH Festival 2025
The exhibition will be presented from Friday 14 November to Sunday 16 November 2025. You are present at the exhibition setup and dismantling. An online evaluation with FASHIONCLASH is also included in this phase.

Important details

  • You receive a compensation of €800 ex. VAT (excluding travel reimbursement, with a maximum of €75) for participation in the Residency Week;

  • During the Residency Week, you receive 4 overnight stays at The Green Elephant Hostels, including all meals (breakfast, lunch, and a daily fee for dinner);

  • The compensation for Phase 2, 3 and 4 of the Trajectory will be decided on availability and feasibility of all participants of the curatorial team.

Important dates

  • Deadline for applications: Monday 31 March 2025, 23:59 (CET);

  • Kick-off (online via Zoom): Thursday 10 April 2025, 16:30 – 17:30 (CET);

  • New Fashion Narratives Residency Week: 15-18 April 2025;

  • FASHIONCLASH Festival: Friday 14 November, Saturday 15 November, Sunday 16 November 2025.

Please get in touch via nfn@fashionclash.nl if you have any specific questions about the New Fashion Narratives Residency/Trajectory.