We are looking for volunteer instructors with a professional background (training or a degree in tailoring, fashion design, apparel technology, or a related field) for our open textile workshop at the Haus der Materialisierung on Alexanderplatz.

Our open workshop is open to anyone with a variety of sewing projects, ranging from small repairs to clothing or backpacks to creating new items. We offer guidance and support in bringing these projects to life. To this end, we provide workspaces, industrial and household sewing machines, as well as supplies and a small fabric shop. We divide the shifts among ourselves. These are twice a week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. Each workshop supervisor
takes on 1–3 shifts per month, depending on availability.

We expect workshop supervisors to have:

• In-depth knowledge of a wide variety of sewing techniques
• Expertise in materials, tools, and clothing styles
• A passion for craftsmanship, patience, and enthusiasm for the participants’ diverse sewing projects
• Communication skills with participants and within the team of supervisors
• Depending on availability, 4.5 hours 1–2 times a month

We offer our workshop instructors:

• Access to the workshop outside of regular hours
• A network of craftspeople and creative individuals
• The opportunity to lead paid workshops and become part of our educational program

Are you interested? Then come check it out—you can contact us during our opening hours (every Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m.) or by email at: textilwerkstatt@kostuemkollektiv.de

With Hanna Eickhoff, seamstress and textile enthusiast
Why buy something when you can make it yourself? In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of working with a sewing machine.
You’ll design a simple fabric bag according to your own ideas, cut out the pieces, sew it on the sewing machine, and take your finished project home with you.
Bring an idea with you, and we’ll bring it to life together. For example, you can use a piece of clothing you no longer wear or some fabric of your own. Or you can choose something from the materials we have available.
The workshop is free and is our final workshop as part of our project “Fast Fashion and How Can We Do Better?”, funded by the Environmental Education Fund of the Mitte district.
Age: 13–27 years
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 2 – 6 p.m.
Where: Textile Workshop at the Weinmeisterhaus – Mitte Youth Cultural Center, Weinmeisterstr. 15, 10178 Berlin (see map).
Registration: With the subject line “Why Buy” by October 12: weinmeisterhaus@wetek.de

On International Repair Day, we’ll be hosting the Repair Bar to round off the day: Over drinks and yarn, we’ll sit together to sew, mend, felt and have a chat. Bring along something from your pile of things to repair that can be fixed by hand. Donations are welcome. Languages: German and English.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 5 – 9 p.m.
Where: Textilwerkstatt/KoWerk at OTTO, Otto-Braunstraße 70-72, 10178 Berlin (see map)

Do you already have experience leading workshops on sustainability in apparel and fashion and want to deepen your knowledge? Do you work in the textile arts, fashion design, or a related field and want to support Kostümkollektiv in its educational work? Then this open call is just right for you!

What to Expect:

• Professional development and the revision or development of workshop formats

Your Task:

• The workshop format you develop must be made available to Kostümkollektiv e.V. in written and visual form for use in its educational work
• Sharing what you’ve learned as an advocate
• You’re somewhat flexible and have a total of about 30 hours available for this (some fixed dates) from September 2026 through the end of January 2026

Further information (in German): here
Application deadline: Apply by Tuesday, September 8, at the latest, via email to Muriel: projekte@kostuemkollektiv.de

Workshop with Tour of the Stock of Materials 
With Muriel Nestler (set and costume designer, initiator of Kostümkollektiv e.V., part of the Material Infrastructure Work Group)

Do you design sets and costumes or work with installations and want to conduct your work in an ecologically responsible way? Do you want to learn how to plan the different phases of your work, from the first draft to the realization to the follow-up, sustainably? Have you asked yourself where materials can be processed in a way that conserves resources and where you can find and recycle materials effectively and economically?

This workshop has been planned as a tour of the stock of materials and is intended for set and costume designers and those who work with installations that want to become acquainted with and expand their options for climate-friendly production. Following an overview of the most effective techniques, networks and orientation tools for resource-friendly production, we will visit three central partners for sustainable practice: Kostümkollektiv, Kunst-Stoffe and the Haus der Materialverwertung. There, we will receive an introduction to ways to use the material markets, stocks of materials and workshops there and learn about their sustainability concepts. Each stop of the tour also features a work module where recommendations are given that can be put to use immediately: Using their own project ideas or a sample project, the participants conduct a planning and development process using the materials, knowledge and tools on-site and jointly collect strategies for conducting their work more sustainably. Further information will also be provided for productions outside of Berlin as well as other questions about sustainable procurement.

The workshop takes place at different locations in Kreuzberg, Mitte and Pankow. Participants can travel together using public transportation or individual by bicycle or other means of transportation. Participants must pay the costs for public transportation themselves. A lunch break is planned during the journey between Kreuzberg and Mitte.

In German spoken language, it is possible to ask questions and make comments in English spoken language

When: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: The starting point will be announced after registration
Registration by September 23, 2026: beratung@pap-berlin.de