As future makers, students in vocational education play an important role in the ongoing development of textile crafts. The TextielLab bridges the gap between vocational training and textile design in practice. We offer internships for HBO (higher vocational education) and MBO (secondary vocational education) students in various techniques. In addition, HBO students can apply to spend three to four days in the lab working on their graduation project at a highly discounted rate. Students will be supervised by one of our experts throughout this period. Recent graduates are also eligible for this kind of supervision.

Experimenting in the lab

Each school year, we develop multi-day programmes for design, textile and fashion students. The programmes focus on the production process, techniques and materials, and students have the chance to work with experts in the lab. For example, students from the Design Academy Eindhoven and Amsterdam Fashion Institute use the weaving and knitting machines in the lab every year. This is a unique opportunity for the students to experiment with materials and machines in a professional workshop.

A programme always consists of a half or full day of introduction: introduction to the museum, the collection and exhibition, introduction to the library, introduction to yarns, and introduction to the technique the students will work with. The techniques are weaving, knitting, tufting, passementerie and embroidery. The students then spend a few days in the lab developing individual or joint projects. They can choose yarns on the spot and, like professional makers, work alongside a product developer. This hands-on approach teaches students about the machines and production process as well as how these can be adjusted to achieve the desired result.

Are you a teacher interested in bringing a group of students to work in the TextielLab? Please contact the TextielLab’s Front Office well before the start of the school year.

Costs
The costs of a multi-day programme include, among others, use and supervision of the lab facilities for each technique, always with a half or full-day reserved for introductions and intakes. We charge a special educational rate for these programmes, and students pay a reduced rate for the materials they use. We aim to tailor our programmes to each course, so please contact our Front Office for a quote.