Soft Landing

Soft Landing, as a collection of essays, attempts to pinpoint where fashion and textile education is today and where it may shift in the future. Initiated by Cumulus’s Fashion and Textile Working Group, the collection considers the future of these two connected fields with the aim of sharing the outcomes of the enquiry with the whole Cumulus family. The essays in this volume address critical questions for fashion and textiles. They shed light on different ideas, approaches, problems, and solutions from teaching and research, as well as contemplating the future trajectory and evolution of fashion and textile education. Will the landing be soft or with turbulence?

Experienced educators and researchers from member institutions of the Cumulus Association spanning 11 countries and 4 continents were invited to contribute their views. The 11 chapters selected for inclusion in Soft Landing reflect on and discuss student projects, curricula, and research conducted in institutions and/or collaboratively with industry or other local stakeholders, as well as direct experiences of the authors as educators in fashion and textiles. The chapters suggest various approaches that fashion and textile education may take to develop the fields for a better future. Whilst most chapters are based on the current situation in fashion and textile education in a particular institution, and reflect the unique characteristics of courses and programs based on their geographical location, and the social, cultural, and economic values of their country, they also highlight shared perspectives, experiences and challenges.

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Suggested Citation: Nimkulrat, N., Ræbild, U. and Piper, A. (eds.) (2018). Soft Landing: Cumulus Think Tank Publication No. 3. Helsinki: Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture.