Key Information

  • Application fee: €50
  • Tuition fee:
    Paris €1,500
    Istanbul €1,500
    Online €500

Introduction

The students involved in this program will discover a unique way of recycling previously un-wearable items or old clothing, creating a more sustainable way of shopping, creating and thinking. This program was initially created in collaboration with Bridget Artise, founder of Born again Vintage, to plant a seed. Now that Upcycled Fashion is trending this class offers the opportunity to step into the world of Sustainable Fashion. Since Sustainable Fashion is the future of retail, our future depends on us to be smarter with our textile waste. With over 21 billion kilos of clothing landing in our landfills every year (US alone), not only is this class fun but a necessity, worldwide. IFA Paris and Born Again Vintage will open the international doors of Sustainable Fashion via this Upcycling and Clothing Reconstruction Class.

OBJECTIVES

When a student can turn their old jeans into a fashion forward jacket or an old sweater into trendy crop top, you are opening doors to new way of looking at old/used clothing. One of the most surprising elements of this class is that no sewing experience is needed, and all experience levels can create recycled fashion. Students leave with a feeling of accomplishment that if they want something new they can create it without spending a penny or going to any store. That changes the way they shop and ultimately how they see their own textile waste. Change starts small but has ongoing impact.

TEACHING STRATEGIES

You will be taught how to deconstruct a garment and reassemble using key parts of the garment. You will have several choices of projects that will be geared to your experience/skill level. Having the students deconstruct a garment piece by piece – reteaches how a garment is constructed.

Once each garment is completely deconstructed, you will determine with your lecturer’s help what key elements of the garment you would like to keep and parts you want to discard.

The pieces are then reassembled creating a completely different garment, the discarded pieces serve as extra fabric needed to embellish finished garment. Most to all of the original piece is used and/or ideas are given to utilize leftover fabric. This teaches the zero-waste concept.

What you learn at the end is that with a little work and creativity you can make something new from something old and old clothes are never seen the same way again.

The online program takes place live and in real-time (Paris or Istanbul local time) and you will interact with the lecturer and other students through our online platform. However, if you cannot attend or miss a live class, every session is also recorded and saved, so you can go back and watch it at a later suitable time for you.

Course Structure (Paris, Istanbul)

10 days, from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm 

Cultural Exposure
To engage students’ inspiration is key. By visiting different fashion exhibits and being engulfed by the history of fashion told by designers thru their garments is a powerful motivator. The experience will help inspire the students in the direction they may want to go with their reconstructed garment.

Thrift Shopping
The class will get the exclusive opportunity to thrift with a thrifting expert. The experience will teach students what to look for while thrifting, how to recognize treasures, what pieces are ideal to reconstruct and more importantly understand the sustainable aspect of thrifting. This will also allow students to pick garments for reconstruction with the guidance of their lecturer, to assure suitable end products.

Intro to Clothing Reconstruction/Photoshoot
On the first day of class a full introduction to the lecturer will begin this class to show the sustainable fashion journey that led to teaching this class. Students will share their experiences that led them to taking this class. Examples of different ways to be sustainable will be shown and discussed. The experience of thrifting will also be discussed to understand why those garments were chosen by those students. Photos of students with before garments will be crucial to show the dramatic comparison to finished garment.

Garment Ideas & Deconstruction
Students will show and explain garments they brought for reconstruction and what they are hoping to do with it. The lecturer will give her ideas and together with the assistant finalize which ideas are feasible to create and teach/help the deconstruction process. All Ideas will need to be confirmed to move forward with deconstruction in order to have adequate time to complete a new garment. Students will continue to deconstruct their garments until they are left with a blank slate to recreate their new garment. During this process, ideas will be shared/shown to elaborate the countless things that can be done with scraps and textile waste. Photos taken to continue to document the process.

Clothing Reconstruction
Each student will get the help and guidance from the lecturer and the assistant to reconstruct the new garment. Any missteps or errors in reconstruction will be reworked and resolved. Fit and structure will be adjusted, if needed. Embellishing garments or adding final touches will be the focus to assure a fully wearable reconstructed design. Each student will have the time to finalize their garment/s and create a full look for their last photos. Those who are completely finished will have the opportunity to make accessories with discarded fabric, as an addition to their look or as an additional project. Pictures will be taken from start to finish to capture the entire process.

Photoshoot of Finished Garments
Students will get the opportunity to style their new garment and have it photographed. This gives the student a chance to be proud of what they have accomplished and in addition, prove that the options of reconstruction are limitless. Photos can/will also be used to generate interest for future classes.

Course Structure (Online)

(TOTAL: 30 Hours)

Intro to Clothing Reconstruction/Photoshoot
On the first day of class a full introduction will show the different steps in the “closing the loop” philosophy. Examples of different ways to be sustainable will be shown and discussed. You will be introduced to an array of before and after upcycled garments by Born Again Vintage to provide you with inspiration for your own work. Bridgett Artise will advise you on your thrift shop trips to source for materials for the rest of the course and the development of your project

Garment Ideas & Deconstruction
You will show and explain garments you brought for reconstruction and what you are hoping to do with it. Bridgett Artise will give her ideas and together with her assistant finalize which ideas are feasible to create. After ideas are confirmed, you will begin the deconstruction process until you are left with a blank slate to recreate your new garment. During this process, ideas will be shared/shown to elaborate the countless things that can be done with scraps and textile waste. Photos taken to continue to document the process.

Clothing Reconstruction
Each student will get the help and guidance from Born Again Vintage and her assistant to reconstruct the new garment. Each student will have the time to finalize their garment/s and create a full look. Pictures will be taken from start to finish to capture the entire process.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Applications for on campus format are open until 1 month before the program start date. Past this deadline, applications will be processed based on seats availability.

Applications for online format are open until 1 week before the program start date. Past this deadline, applications will be processed based on seats availability.

Fee Structure

Paris:
Tuition fee: €1,500

Online:
Tuition fee: €500

Early bird discount (10%) for tuition fee payments processed at least 7 months in advance of the program start date.

What is included in the fee:

  • Microsoft Office Pack
  • Access to IFA’s Online Learning Management System (LMS)
  • Course Material
  • Lecture
  • Temporary Access to Browzwear
  • 3D Prototype

What is not included in the fee:

  • Expenses related to module specific materials (ex: purchase of fabrics, future boards…etc)
  • Printing and photocopying costs
  • Thrift Shopping

Material Requirements (Online)

  • A Sewing Kit
  • Secondhand clothing
  • A pair of scissors
  • Trimmings
  • A recent computer with a recent operating system
  • A good internet connection
  • An up-to-date web browser (it would be advisable to ensure you have access to two separate web browsers)
  • Microphone & Headphones (a headset with microphone/headphones is recommended)
  • Webcam