MAKEFASHION EDU
MakeFashion Edu provides a year-round suite of education programs and support for K-12 educators and students. Their core programs foster STEM skills development that focus on creative careers, rather than the traditional focus on engineering careers.
Fashion tech in every classroom
The Edu program began when MakeFashion co-founder, Shannon Hoover, came to Shenzhen to exhibit his designs, and SteamHead co-founder Carrie Leung brought her class to a maker faire. According to Carrie, her students saw the MakeFashion projects and literally dragged her over to the booth because they were so excited.
And what started as Carrie wanting to encourage her students to create projects that interest and excite them, became a partnership between her and Shannon to develop the ideas and methods of MakeFashion into a program that any educator could bring into their classroom.
The Runway
MakeFashion Edu runways are held in public spaces, and are the culminating event that the students work towards. The critical skills and processes all occur in the months leading up to the runway event, but the public display is a huge factor in motivating everyone and ensuring accountability to a large audience.
The Classes
MakeFashion Edu classes are held in schools or education centers around the world.
Ideally lasting an entire semester, these classes focus on design, storytelling, and use technology as a secondary objective.
These experiences excel at bringing students who do not self-identify as engineers towards using technology to complete projects they find compelling.
MakeFashion Edu has proven to be a powerful entry point for students of all perspectives and backgrounds, but especially for girls who are hesitant to engage with science and technology subjects.
