During the project we wanted to create at least 8 series of clothes all on different important topics. The result was 11 projects from the participants. It’s also important to mention that the participants developed the projects by their own while being helped by the professionals of fashion design and graphic design. One of the main indicators was the interest towards creative problem solving through design the participants got during the project and the development of their understanding of those problems.
The main impact was on the participants because they had a chance to be in direct contact experts who had a solid background in needed areas & shared it with the participants. Hence, not only the participants were taught the basics in arts or brand creation, different tricks and tips of this craft, but also shared with them valubale information about the fashion business, social entrepreneurship, youth activism, which they would not learn in an academic education.
Estonia
One of the main achievements of the project was creating the community of teens from two countries eager to think creatively and create thoughtfully. During the project participants learnt more information about social problems and the difficulties others face in their life as well as learning more about the production of clothes and how to make them in an eco-friendly way. The main achievement that exceeded the initial expectations is that the community doesn’t want to stop creating after the end of the project – there are ideas of how to continue the brainstorming and clothes-production and even attracting more people into the process which is a good result achieved both in Tallinn & Riga.
In Tallinn we provided qualitative workshops from various people involved in various industries. We had a professional brand manager giving workshops on brand creation, professional young designers providing workshops on design and message communication, aspiring graphic designers showing their works and giving participants a chance to try out working in new programs. We have also been promoting the initiative in schools of the city, which boosted our work with local partners and we involved various youth groups to join creating messages and also creating promotional materials for the projects.
Latvia
Project was held in Riga mainly, involving local young people. During the project designs for T-shirts were created to represent social problems. Design topic was taken more deeply and youngsters were also taught how to model the dresses and draw silhouettes for fashion design. In order to create a fashion brand too. For entrepreneurial learning purposes.
Youth of Riga had chance to gain more skills in the branding and fashion topics besides creation of social graphic designs for Shokkin Group International.
Multiplier event was organized in Riga’s alternative culture center ‘’Kaņepes Kultūras Centrs’’. Where created products were presented to the local youth audience. And the main mentor and trainer of the Message Wear project in Latvia, Ralfs Banders was introducing about acomplishments.
Achievement that exceeds the initial expectation is creation of other brand, female fashion line of dresses, and creation of real products, linen dresses. Name of this new brand is ‘’VĪGRIEZE’’.
Both organizations were fully involved in the process of working with young people, trying their best to communicate amongst each other and contributed to the evaluation of the project.
The organizations got new potential members and wannabes, many of whom had never heard about the Erasmus+ projects before, as well as the young community ready to develop their own project. While the participants themselves got the experience in idea development and the knowledge in the process of clothes & brand creating.
We consider this project as successful as we have reached the goals we have set – we have made the designs, held promotional event and created a website http://www.messagewear.eu/