One Week, Four Countries, Countless Sparks of Inspiration
Designers and artisans gather from four countries for a exciting week of creative exchange and cultural discovery.
From 19–23 May 2025, the heart of MUSE beat loudly in Valladolid, Spain, as professionals from our four partner countries — Spain, Belgium, Ukraine, and Malta — came together for the first and only in-person international meeting of the project.
This week marked a major milestone: an immersive and creative co-creation residency where ideas flowed freely, cultures merged, and the seeds of our collaborative fashion capsule collection began to take root.
? Sharing the Threads from the Exploration Labs
The week began with presentations from each team, unveiling the work carried out during the Exploration Labs held across Europe earlier this spring. It was deeply inspiring to witness the diversity of approaches — from intuitive artistic processes to community-led techniques and emotionally grounded storytelling. The insights from these Labs became the raw material for the next phase of the project.
? Co-Creation in Motion
With this wealth of ideas on the table, our Artistic Director, Berenike Corcuera, led a dynamic series of collaborative sessions. Participants were grouped into multinational design teams, working together on sketching, experimenting on mannequins, and discovering each other’s creative languages. These sessions weren’t just about design — they were about building trust, sharing methods, and starting to weave a shared artistic vision.
? Between Technology and Tradition
In true MUSE fashion, the week balanced cutting-edge techniques with deep respect for traditional craftsmanship:
- A vinyl-printing workshop at FabLab UVA sparked playful experimentation with digital methods.
- A visit to CEARCAL introduced participants to plant fibre weaving, one of the region’s most ancient textile practices.
- The week culminated in an upcycling masterclass led by Spanish designer Juan VG, where participants created their own garments from discarded materials — a perfect nod to MUSE’s commitment to sustainability and creative reuse.
?️ A Place Made for Inspiration
Held at Espacio SEMINCI, a cultural hub in Valladolid, the week also included the first in-person project coordination meeting, where we reviewed progress, shared digital updates, and aligned plans for the coming year. The venue provided a fertile environment for reflection, dialogue, and creative energy.
Thank you to everyone who made this unforgettable week possible — especially the teams from CARITAS UKRAINE, KAOS, Migrant Women Association Malta, and Fundación INTRAS. Stay tuned — the real stitching begins soon. We’re also actively building the project’s digital presence, which you can follow closely on our MUSE Instagram channel via our digital tapestry, WeAreMuse.eu. ?✨
? What Comes Next?
MUSE Week laid the foundations for the next stage: the Cut & Craft Workshops, which will run from September 2025 to April 2026. Building on the collaborative energy and insights shared in Valladolid, our Artistic Director is now finalizing the common threads that will guide the development of our MUSE Capsule Collection.
