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THE NEXT THREAD

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15th OCTOBER 2026 - 6pm-9pm
LONDON (IRL) + ONLINE (URL)

A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT FOR FASHION.

The fashion system we have today wasn't inevitable. It emerged from a particular set of technologies, economics and ways of making - and it can change again.

The Next Thread brings together research, design, education and industry to explore how that system came about, where it may be heading, and what a new fashion system might look like. How might we move towards a system that is more sustainable, transparent and fair - creating more space, freedom and opportunity for the next generation of designers and makers.

- ATTEND IN PERSON (IRL)

Come and join the conversation at the Shoreditch Sandbox including the audience discussion and Q&A.
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Secure your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-next-thread-who-owns-the-future-of-fashion-tickets-1999488836936
- JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE (URL)
A limited number of people will also be able to join remotely via a private Google Meet and participate in the Q&A. If you would like to join remotely, register below ⬇ and select “Join The Next Thread online”.
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Joining details will be sent privately to confirmed remote attendees before the event (register below).

FROM CONVERSATION TO EXPERIMENT...

IF THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO CHANGE, WHAT DO WE NEED TO BUILD TO HELP CHANGE IT?

No single platform, technology or organisation will create a new fashion system.
True change will require many things: new models, new behaviours, new relationships, new forms of infrastructure and new tools - developed by many different people and organisations.
At xyz.exchange, one of the things we are exploring is how the information and infrastructure surrounding a design could work differently. That experiment is tecpacx. tecpacx is being developed as a connected system for fashion product development — exploring how the information around a garment can remain connected as a design moves through technical development, sizing and fit, pattern, materials, construction and production.
We believe infrastructure of this kind could contribute to a fashion system that is more connected, transparent and accessible — and ultimately better able to support more democratic and sustainable ways of designing, making and producing.

FROM FASHION 1.0 TO 'FASHION 2.0'

In our earlier research with UAL, we began describing this possible transition as a move from Fashion 1.0 — a relatively fixed system built around producing more units from fewer designs — towards 'Fashion 2.0': a more dynamic system capable of supporting more designs (by a greater number of MSME independent brands), made in fewer units. A system with greater space and freedom for designers, better protection and connection between participants, and more resourceful ways of making.

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But we don't want to develop that proposition in isolation. We want designers to help us test it.
Register below ⬇
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TECPACX LIVE R&D - A DESIGN COMPETITION BUILT AROUND REAL WORK.


HELP US BUILD IT.

TEST IT ON YOUR OWN DESIGNS.

HELP SHAPE WHAT IT BECOMES.

We are putting together an initial R&D cohort of approximately 10–15 people to work with tecpacx as this new design tool develops.

The majority of the cohort is expected to be current fashion students, alongside a smaller number of alumni and potentially educators, staff or other emerging practitioners.

The initial programme is being developed through conversations with Central Saint Martins / UAL and IED Barcelona.
Register below ⬇
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THIS IS MORE THAN A CONVENTIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION.

Participants will bring their own design work into the live development of tecpacx. Together we will explore how those designs move from creative concept towards the information needed to develop and make them - while participants' experience, criticism and ideas feed directly back into the R&D of the app itself.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

Selected participants will have the opportunity to:
• work directly with the tecpacx team using their own design work
• test an emerging product-development system before its wider release (and be given a free subscription for 3 years)
• explore connected approaches to technical development, sizing, fit, patterns, materials and production
• contribute directly to the R&D of the technology and help influence how it develops
• work alongside other emerging designers, educators and industry collaborators
• develop and document their design through the programme
• potentially progress selected work towards physical development and realisation
• contribute to a final presentation/showcase bringing together the designs, process and what we learn through the experiment (likely to involve media and retail partners - yet to be determind)
Further information about eligibility, the cohort, submission process, programme structure, selection and final outcomes will follow. For now, we are asking people to register their interest.
Register below ⬇
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REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

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