24-year-old Paula Vēvere is a Bachelor’s graduate from the Art Academy of Latvia. With a particular interest in textiles, material research, and digital design, she participated in Makerspace Schneeberg 2025, an international creative laboratory as part of the European FashionTEX project. For two weeks, she worked with students and experts from all over Europe to explore new avenues between traditional craftsmanship and digital innovation. In this interview, Paula talks about what she learned, how she overcame challenges, and what new ideas she is taking back to Latvia from Schneeberg.

Paula, what new skills or insights did you gain at the Makerspace – perhaps even beyond the purely technical aspects?

Paula Vēvere: During our two weeks at the Makerspace, I had the opportunity to expand a wide range of skills thanks to the experts we were able to learn from and work with. Especially in the digital field, I deepened my understanding of design processes and learned new approaches.

Was there a particular “aha moment” or a special discovery for you?

Paula Vēvere: There wasn’t one single moment, but I notice that I now apply much of what I learned at the Makerspace quite naturally. That shows me that the intensive work there was really worthwhile.

Were you able to make new contacts with other students or universities?

Paula Vēvere: Yes, that was one of the best aspects of the experience. It’s something special to get to know people from all over Europe who share similar interests in such a short time. With some of the experts, the desire to continue working together in the future also arose – that’s very exciting.

What was your biggest personal challenge while working at the Makerspace – and how did you overcome it?

Paula Vēvere: The biggest challenge was setting priorities. There were so many exciting workshops and opportunities that I had to learn to ask myself: What can I learn here that I wouldn’t be able to learn at home? This focus helped me to get the most out of the short time.

What insights did you gain from working on your avatar or outfit?

Paula Vēvere: I gained a better understanding of what is possible in the digital space and where the limitations of current technology lie. This knowledge is very valuable to me for working more effectively in the future.

Was there anything that particularly surprised or inspired you?

Paula Vēvere: Definitely the experts. Their professionalism and dedication were impressive. It showed me once again how important passion and teamwork are in creative processes.

Which technical tools did you work with the most, and what did you learn from using them?

Paula Vēvere: I mainly worked with Clo 3D and Adobe Substance, especially in the area of ​​textures. I also explored machine knitting – unfortunately, I would have liked to have had more time for that. I also found 3D printing unexpectedly exciting, and I can definitely see myself working with it in the future.

Which result of your work in the Makerspace are you most proud of?

Paula Vēvere: It’s difficult to single out one thing. But I feel a special connection to the knitted piece I created on the Stoll machine. Physical results simply have a different emotional impact on me than digital ones.

How do you want to continue after the Makerspace?

Paula Vēvere: I will definitely continue working with textiles. My goal is to overcome the boundaries between traditional craftsmanship, innovative design, and conceptual design. After the Makerspace, I see even more technical and creative possibilities than before.

Are there any projects or topics that you would like to pursue further?

Paula Vēvere: Yes, I want to delve deeper into the topics I’ve been working on over the past year. My goal is to take a stronger stance on things that are personally important to me through fashion, textiles, and other media.

What was your biggest personal gain from your time in the Makerspace?

Paula Vēvere: The biggest gain is the many new skills and impressions I was able to gather there, and the feeling of being part of a creative, European community.