As part of the Decolonial Residency organized by the Lowlands Decolonial Fashion Network (LDNF) network, four thought-provoking field trips were held throughout 2024, each exploring key aspects of decoloniality in relation to fashion, culture, and local resources.
In June 2024, The Linen Project invited fellow network members for a one-day field trip to a flax field in Arnhem. This excursion focused on exploring the role of local resources and indigenous knowledge systems in addressing contemporary issues. The visit provided participants with a deeper understanding of sustainable practices and how historical local knowledge can inform current solutions.
Followed by The Linen Project, FASHIONCLASH hosted a one-week residency in which ten fashion practitioners delved into questions of decoloniality, both in the Dutch context and specifically within fashion. The residency encouraged deep reflection on colonial legacies and their impact on the fashion industry today. During one of the days of the program, LDNF network representatives visitied Maastricht and joined the conversation with the Decolonial Residency participants.
In August 2024, Tailors & Wearers (T&W) commissioned three designers to “rethink” the Surinamese angisa, encouraging a critical examination of cultural heritage through a decolonial lens. Network members visited T&W and engaged with the designers to reflect on their creative processes and research, providing insights into the ways in which fashion can challenge and reshape narratives of cultural identity.
Finally, in early September 2024, Crafts Council Nederland organized an afternoon dedicated to Dutch crafting practices. This event explored the importance of embodied knowledge, community building, and intergenerational transmission of skills, offering a deeper understanding of how traditional crafts can play a role in decolonial practices.
The overall process of coordinating these field trips and discussions was led by the Research Collective for Decoloniality & Fashion (RCDF), with a focus on promoting dialogue, reflection, and collaboration within the Dutch hosting of the Global Fashioning Assembly 2024 (GFA24).
These field trips provided valuable spaces for reflection and conversation, offering participants a richer understanding of how decolonial practices can be applied in various creative and cultural contexts.
