The Fashion Colloquia series originated through a core network of 4 institutions, connected by their residence and involvement in the four big 'Fashion weeks' across the globe. These Institutions were the London College of Fashion - University of the Arts, London, Domus Academy - Milan, Institute Francais de la Mode - Paris and Parsons, The New School for Design, School of Fashion, New York. As a result, members of this core network used the occurrence of the fashion weeks to organise a series of colloquia to take place from 2011-2013. Their aim was to employ the fashion weeks as a catalyst to challenge understandings regarding the value of fashion across the globe.

Second series of Fashion Colloquia focused on the core theme of ‘Emergence’ and how fashion as a global phenomenon generates huge interest from across multiple sectors of society and industry. They addressed a variety of topics, including: New Luxury (Arnhem, May 2018), Local Production (Ho Chi Min, July 2016); Sustainable Development in Social, Economic, Environmental, Cultural and Geographic Dimensions (Sao Paulo, April 2016); The future of the Fashion Weeks (Milan, September 2015).

Fashion Colloquium 2020, will formally launch the Third series of Fashion Colloquia recognizing the importance of a ‘Responsible’ future. It will be hosted by the ARCH College of Design & Business in Jaipur. Following these forerunning events, the Fashion Colloquia in Jaipur will bring forward themes with particular relevance to the specific location. It will allow varied different sets of contributions to be added and explored, within a responsible and interdisciplinary frame and context in order to invest in a shared & sustainable future for fashion.

AIM

Attracting a rich variety of contributions from a broad selection of people from academia, media and practice – and utilize contributions for uploading to an established international repository for fashion.

HOST

ARCH College of Design & Business, Jaipur was established in the year 2000 with a vision to engage the natural potential of individuals through Design education, empower them to evolve, through the spirit of holistic co-creation, enabled by positive thought and action.

The institution has nurtured individuals to develop as professionals with creative thinking, innovation, sensitivity and the ability to transform the future. Learners are encouraged to investigate factors which determine cultural and creative influences in design, business & research. The institution continues in its endeavour to constantly explore, develop, and establish, collaborative links with institutions globally to enhance and develop new benchmarks in the field of design education, and apply it to its various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. “Anapana” meditation is a daily practice which helps in the student’s holistic development and mindfulness.

The cultural heritage, craft, and industry of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of'Pink City' Jaipur act as catalysts in the study of design. The research led, interdisciplinary learning practiced in the ambience of this World Craft City has attracted pluralistic identities & cultural contexts. Design students, researchers, teachers, and practitioners come here from across the planet to explore and contribute to the growing ecosystem. Further, the burgeoning IT sector within the city has opened up new avenues for the rapid growth of start-up ecosystems. The Incubation cell – HubIN at the campus provides budding entrepreneurs with the appropriate environment to create their own enterprise. Our mission at ARCH is to develop designers to become Social Entrepreneurs; who through thought and action, can further revive and renew time-honoured indigenous skills & craft knowledge and practices, to bring about beneficial changes towards attaining sustainable livelihood.

ARCH College of Design & Business invites contributions of research papers and apparel and exhibit designs for the Fashion Colloquia 2020 from academia, industry, media and practice, and anyone who is interested in shaping fashion futures. We are hosting a five day event of fashion shows and exhibitions, panel talks, design and craft workshops and indigenous community site and craft cluster visits. Associating with the world-renowned Jaipur Literature Festival for pre-conference activities, we are devoted to host an extraordinary cultural experience programme. If you do not wish to present but simply attend this conference, please contact us at fashioncolloquiajaipur@archedu.org for more information on conference registration fees. We are happy to support with advice for travel and accommodation.