Festival

The FashionTEX Festival is an innovative industry gathering that brings together fashion industry leaders, up-and-coming start-ups, students, professors and fashion enthusiasts to envision the future of fashion and textile design in the age of digitalization.

Find out more about our mission now and download the information folder here.

The festival becomes a meeting place for visionaries in the fashion and textile
industry. For two days, leading personalities from the fashion industry, research, teaching, start-ups and students will gather at a special location: “die fabrik chemnitz”, a historic industrial monument.
Experience the revival of a former tulle factory in the midst of Chemnitz’s urban industrial culture. “die farbik chemnitz” offers everything you need for contemporary working and living. With a wide range of offers, “die fabrik chemnitz” creates space for growth, creativity and exchange. Events are a central component that brings the community together, promotes the exchange of ideas and enables unforgettable shared experiences.

On the occasion of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Chemnitz, students from european fashion academies will come to Chemnitz for the first time together with thought pioneers and leading representatives of the fashion and textile industry to present the results of their work in the FashionTEX project over two days and to exchange ideas with established experts and representatives of the fashion and textile industry. In panels, workshops and lectures, they will discuss key topics such as digitalization and digital product development, sustainability and climate protection as well as procurement and distribution in the fashion industry.

The festival thus sends out international impulses from the Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, which offers the perfect place for this. The third-largest metropolis in the federal state of Saxony can look back on a long tradition as a textile location and was long regarded as “Saxony’s Manchester”. FashionTEX brings Chemnitz back onto the stage of the textile industry!

Digital Fashion Museum – Experience Fashion History in a New Way

We don’t just design clothing – we create spaces for participation.

The Digital Fashion Museum is a virtual exhibition experience on the Spatial platform, which can be explored up close using VR headsets. Visitors can immerse themselves fully in the exhibition – thanks to the support of XR Hub Bavaria, which provides VR headsets on site.

We offer a diverse program of podium discussions and lectures, exhibitions, fashion shows and networking opportunities. The exact program schedule will be announced soon.

Be part of the FashionTEX Festival – the pinnacle of creative innovation in the
fashion and textile industry! This is where the industry’s leading minds, up-and-coming start-ups, inspired students and visionary professors come together to form the future of design in the digital age. Present your ideas and technologies as an expert, speaker, start-up or exhibitor in front of an international audience and make a name for yourself in the industry.

Support the next generation of talent as a sponsor and actively shape the transformation of the fashion and textile industry. The FashionTEX Festival offers you a unique platform to network, exchange ideas and set new standards together with like-minded people. Let’s revolutionize the industry together – be part of it!

The award is not only a recognition but also a platform: for exchange, visibility, and the development of a new digital design culture in Europe.

The Award
Show us your vision – and help shape the fashion of tomorrow!
Do you think fashion in digital, sustainable, and out-of-the-box terms? Do you work with 3D tools, create virtual collections, or combine textile design with technology? Then apply now for the Next Generation Digital Fashion Award 2025.

Under the motto “Fashion for Future,” the European Cultural Forum is looking – until October 1, 2025 – for Europe’s boldest and most creative emerging talents who are rethinking fashion and want to actively transform it with innovative ideas.
From digital avatars and gamechangers to interactive pieces, smart materials, or immersive runway experiences – in short: reimagining the entire industry.

The Next Generation Digital Fashion Award is the European Cultural Forum’s message to the future: Creativity meets Tech – and shapes a new fashion reality.

Who can apply?
Do you not only work with 3D software but also turn your digital designs into real clothing?
Do you show that digital and physical fashion go hand in hand – virtually animated and physically tailored?
Then you’ve come to the right place!
We’re looking for creative talents from all over Europe who rethink fashion and create digital twins of their designs – no matter whether you are studying, furthering your education, or conducting research at a university.
What matters is not your degree, but your idea.
The fashion of the future should be visible, wearable, and sustainable – both digitally and physically.
If you combine design and technology and develop new, sustainable approaches to fashion, show us how you use digital tools to shape the future.

Apply now – because fashion needs new perspectives.

How does the competition work?

A panel of experts from the fields of fashion, technology, and sustainability will select the most compelling projects from all submissions. The main criteria are:

• the quality of the design,
• the innovative use of digital tools,
• and the ecological or social potential of the idea.

Several finalists will be nominated and invited to the final event. There, they will present their digital designs, concepts, or collections – as part of an exhibition and a public event.

After the presentations, the jury will award the Next Generation Digital Fashion Award. The evaluation is based not only on the submitted project, but also on how convincingly the idea and vision are communicated in person – both in discussion and on the runway.

How is the evaluation done?

When selecting the finalists, the jury will pay special attention to the following criteria:

1. Idea and Concept
   Is there a clear creative idea? Does the project take an innovative or future-oriented approach?
2. Use of Digital Tools
   How effectively and creatively were digital tools such as 3D software or animations used?
3. Design and Execution
   How convincing are the outfits in terms of shape, material, and realization – digitally or physically?
4. Target Audience
   You clearly communicate who your fashion is intended for – e.g., consumers, companies, or digital applications. The presentation is clear, accessible, and understandable – for example through simple animations or well-prepared visualizations.
5. Future Potential and Impact
   Your idea has potential for the future: it can be transferred to other fields – such as gaming, online shopping, or education. It can also be developed further or scaled, and shows ways fashion can be rethought – digitally, sustainably, or socially relevant.

How can I participate?
Submit your entry no later than October 1, 2025, via email to: julia.braun@fashiontex.eu

What do you need to submit?

Two outfits – one physical and one digital (or both in both forms). For each outfit, please include:

• 10–15 well-lit photos
• Front, back, and detail views
• Digital: Rendered, high-resolution images in portrait format, with transparent or no background

You can upload your files via Google Drive, WeTransfer, or any method that works best for you.

What happens next?

The jury will review and evaluate all projects by October 15. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be notified in time.

On November 7, 2025, you are invited to Chemnitz to take part in the FashionTEX Festival. There:

• You’ll present your project in a personal conversation with the jury
• You’ll showcase your physical outfit on the runway
• You’ll present your digital animation on the big screen

For the animation, you will receive technical specifications after nomination to ensure a consistent and professional presentation.
The animation must be submitted by November 2, 2025, 11:59 PM.