#Inclusion
Experiences

Cotton is perhaps the world's most well-known fabric, however, many stories behind cotton are lesser known. These untold and sometimes unexpected perspectives have been collected and brought together in the exhibition, Knowing Cotton Otherwise. 

In the third and final chapter, Flipping the Script, designers Nsimba Valene Lontanga and Angelo Carlos Marcus Elizabeth take you on a journey through their heritage and culture while challenging you to reimagine fundamental concepts within the realm of fashion and design.  

The exhibition unpacks and brings into question established ideas of 'classic' and 'basic' style staples, as well as redefining 'typically African' design and print. What happens when we reconsider our preconceived ideas of what cotton represents around the world? 

Knowing Cotton Otherwise is open to the public until 16 October 2023 at the Fashion for Good Museum, Rokin 102,  Amsterdam.

Exhibition Knowing Cotton Otherwise
Cotton is perhaps the world's most well-known fabric, however, many stories behind cotton are less known. These untold and sometimes unexpected perspectives have been collected and brought together in the exhibition, Knowing Cotton Otherwise. Centred on collectivity and community, local artists have been invited to present work that connects and intersects with different themes relating to the story of cotton. By mixing styles and stories, Knowing Cotton Otherwise creates a multifaceted experience, inviting you to reflect, question, play and wonder. 

Fashion, art and social change
Built around different themes telling the story of cotton, the exhibition highlights the relationship between cotton and the fashion industry, the role of cotton in an increasingly intertwined web of global cultures, and the sustainable innovations driving its circular transformation. The exhibition provides questions such as where does cotton come from? How is it grown? What is the future of cotton and the role of innovation? How should we relate to the more questionable aspects of cotton, from its history of forced migration to more modern-day challenges? And how can we celebrate cotton, the connections it creates and the opportunities around it?

Collectivity and Community
Knowing Cotton Otherwise is presented in different phases throughout the year in which the exhibition grows and changes. The first phase features artists Benoît Gilles Michel, Caithlin Courtney Chong, Mario Gonsalves, Niño Divino, Noah Cohen, Nsimba Valene and Tasio Bidegain as well as the collectives OSSO Archive, Studio Papa and The Gang is Beautiful. The exhibition also showcases innovative technologies in material traceability and dyeing from Fashion for Good Innovators Oritain and Officina39. Knowing Cotton Otherwise invites you to question the content presented, examine your ideas and engage together in a process of self-reflection and critical consideration.

The excursions are delivered as a partnership between the Urban Cycling Institute (UCI) and Bicycle User Experience (BUX).

This two hour excursion brings you to key innovation sites in the central core of Amsterdam, starting at the Nieuwmarkt square in the city center, and ending at the Rijksmuseum. We curate stops at select sites that are representative of broader trends taking place in the city. We discuss changing directions of how the city views cyclists and the street, we show you best practices and- most importantly 😉 – we promise to challenge your preconceptions of how to plan for a cycling city. At the end, we provide different avenues for continued engagement and learning with us.

The study excursions take place from 16:00-18:00 most Saturdays in July and August*. The cost is €50 per person. There are 15 open spots per excursion. Participants need to arrange their own bicycle to take part.

Dates: July: 23, 31*(July 31st is a Sunday)
August: 6, 13, 20, 27

For full information and sign-up, visit the following link:

THE YIMBY Yes-In-My-Back-Yard EXPERIENCE! is a bottom-up movement aiming at small scale food growing in cities. THE YIMBY EXPERIENCE! started in 2013 in the city of Arnhem in the Netherlands. The YIMBY EXPERIENCE! is expanding with the support of the city of Arnhem and local sponsors.

Eight years of THE YIMBY EXPERIENCE! shows the empowerment of citizens.: Citizens who started with a small food platform have grown to larger urban food growers. Citizens are more aware of the relation between season and growing and adapt their buying of seasonal food in the supermarket. Citizens gained green growing knowledge and have more green connections in their neighbourhood.

Interested? Take a look at the following YouTube film (2 minutes)
https://youtu.be/0_JWmuhwyR4