Underground, above ground and in the midst of art
Schneeberg, September 7, 2025: At the FashionTEX Makerspace, everything usually revolves around avatars, outfits, and digital tools. But this weekend, it was time to get out of the studio and into the region. The 24 fashion students set out together to get to know Chemnitz and the surrounding area a little better – and to really delve deep.
It all started on September 6 with a very special adventure: a visit to the Bad Schlema visitor mine. Equipped with helmets, we went underground – to where the miners once worked. Dark, cool, narrow – and incredibly impressive. For many of us, it was the first time to delve so deep into the earth. “You immediately feel how hard and dangerous this work must have been,” said August Oster from Amsterdam. An experience he won’t soon forget.
The next day, the journey continued – this time back into the daylight and into Chemnitz, the 2025 Capital of Culture. First stop: the Industrial Museum. Between giant textile machines, old looms, and gleaming cars, we realized how strongly Chemnitz’s industrial history has shaped us. For us as fashion students, it was especially exciting to see how closely the roots of textile production are connected to innovation and technology – a perfect bridge to our own work in the makerspace.
Afterward, a cultural highlight awaited us: the large Edvard Munch exhibition at the Chemnitz Art Collections. We suddenly fell silent in front of the Norwegian artist’s expressive paintings. The intensity of his images impressed us so much that discussions immediately began: How can this energy be translated into fashion and design? Which colors and which shapes would Munch choose today?
Two days full of impressions – deep underground, amidst industrial history, and finally, in front of masterpieces of European art. For us, this was not only a diverse supporting program for our work in the FashionTEX makerspace, but also a true source of inspiration. And that’s exactly what it’s all about: staying curious, gathering new perspectives, and developing creative ideas for the future.
