“Why should we continue with a system that causes so much damage when we know there is another way?”
On October 9 2025, the Dutch Sustainable Fashion Week organizes, in collaboration with Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam, Rotterdam Academy, Albeda and Zadkine, a special day in the heart of Rotterdam where we will work together to build a new fashion world. A world in which beauty does not come at the expense of people or the planet. Where local craftsmen, designers, students, policymakers and fashion professionals come together to work on a system that is fairer, more creative and more sustainable.
During this day, our Fashion students will engage in interactive workshops, inspiring seminars and joint discussions how fashion can become a reflection of our values, not just our tastes.
The WdKA programme consists out of lectures and workshops by Maaike Gottschal and Dasha Tsapenko. They will focus on two unique materials: flax and fungi. Flax is a centuries-old material that is gaining renewed interest due to its contribution to soil health and sustainable agriculture. Fungi represent an innovative design approach that allows materials to literally grow. Maaike Gottschal and Dasha Tsapenko will demonstrate how this can be applied in textile/fashion practice.
This day is part of a growing movement in which educational institutions, students and creators from the city are exploring an alternative to the current fashion system.
More info and registration for WdKa Fashion students via this link.
