Waag Society is a Dutch institute for art, science and technology and a pioneer in the field of digital media. Over the past 20 years, the foundation has developed into an institution of international stature, a platform for artistic research and experimentation, and has become both a catalyst for events and a breeding ground for cultural and social innovation. Waag Society explores emerging technologies, and provides art and culture a central role in the designing of new applications for novel advances in science and technology. The organisation’s artistic researchincludes six labs run by leading designers, programmers, and researchers. One of these labs, is the TCBL (Textile and Clothing Business Lab), through which Waag Society helps lead innovative practices in the European textile and clothing industry. In the project Waag Society along with partners from across Europe investigate how the clothing sector can benefit from new technologies, processes, and business models.
In the TCBL project, Waag Society works with partners from all across Europe to share knowledge while exploring alternatives for the textile and clothing industry. During a TCBL consortium meeting in Athens, the Waag society team visited Mirtec (Materials Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre) that will play host to a TCBL Make Lab, and Impact Hub Athens that will hopefully also be involved in the TCBL project as a Place Lab.
Exciting places to explore!
The Mirtec venue is not immediately visible when walking across the city. After entering an unassuming building, we suddenly plunge into a lab full of marvelous machines for testing textiles and flexible materials. There were machines to test what a material is made of; to simulate weather conditions; and to check for the presence of heavy metals. Mirtec is not directly involved with fashion yet, but they can provide this project (and thus the ecosystem) with technical knowledge. They will also open their doors to designers, textile and clothing enterprises, students and researchers. In the lab, they will focus on textile processing techniques (mostly wet treatments) and methods of textile testing. Additionally, they will produce tutorials; consult textile and clothing enterprises; and provide open days and workshops for students, researchers and entrepreneurs.
Impact Hub Athens, on the other hand, is located in a beautiful 19th century building in the heart of the city. There are around 80 Impact Hubs around the world and, although they are all connected and operate under the same ideology, the hubs across the world differ slightly due to their locally-oriented nature.
Impact Hub Athens is an innovation lab, a social enterprise community center, and a business incubator. In other words, they bring together people who want change the way business is done and influence what happens in Athens for a better and more sustainable future.
Impact Hub offers and facilitates a series of programs for all stages of entrepreneurial activity; provides networking events, incubation programs, competitions, investor pitches; and offers a space to work and meet. Upon entering the hall, the first thing that draws one’s attention is a large plaque with images of the people who are part of the Hub community and the projects they are working on. These projects address social, economic, environmental and cultural issues. In the basement, one can peruse a comics library; upstairs, there is a large open, work space.
While setting up our own TCBL Labs at Waag Society (starting this summer), it is inspiring to see the other Labs and connect to people with the same energy, urge for exploration within the industry, and willingness to support innovation across Europe. These Labs will gradually begin interacting with each other as well as other entities within the TCBL ecosystem, sharing knowledge and values while exploring alternatives for the textile and clothing industry.
Blog written by Ista Boszhard and originally published waag society’s blog on Thursday 03 March 2016. You can view the original blog here.