Progetto europeo

In 2023, the World Health Organization estimated that 1.3 billion people live with significant disabilities—around 16% of the global population. In response to the limitations of conventional assistive devices, a new collaborative and user-centered approach is emerging within fablabs: co-design. This methodology brings together users, designers, therapists, and communities to co-develop personalized, effective, and replicable solutions using digital fabrication technologies.

Within this context, SeWith was born—an EU-funded project led by OpenDot (Milan), Humanlab by APAJH 44, and the association PiNG (Nantes). Its goal is to explore the potential of textile co-design by developing adaptive garments and accessories with and for people with disabilities.

SeWith promotes inclusion in the fashion world through digital fabrication, developing functional and aesthetically pleasing clothing for people with disabilities. The project explores new technologies for personalized production, allowing users to actively participate in the design of their own clothes. OpenDot, with its co-design approach, helps transform fashion into a more equitable and accessible field, breaking down barriers and redefining the boundaries between industry, craftsmanship, and innovation.

For us, practicing co-design in fablabs means moving beyond individual initiative and DIY solutions. It’s about developing collaboratively tested solutions that are openly documented, easily replicable, and financially accessible.

In addition to fostering the exchange of expertise among the organisations involved in accessible design, the project also aims to build the co-design skills of all participants and to directly address the needs expressed by producing adapted garments during the workshops.

The first event took place in Nantes on May 13–14, hosted at the Hyperlien space.
It was a free and fully accessible workshop, open to 20 participants. The program combined training sessions on co-design and transformative design with hands-on activities in multidisciplinary teams, aimed at designing and developing the first prototypes of adapted clothing based on real needs.

The projects initiated in Nantes will be further developed during a second workshop, scheduled for October 2025 in Milan.

Co-design and rapid prototyping for inclusive fashion: Open Call for designers

From 14 to 16 October in Milan, OpenDot will host the second edition of the SeWith workshop – Co-design and Rapid Prototype for Inclusive Fashion.

We are looking for 10 fashion and product designers, pattern makers, students and fashion enthusiasts who want to participate in three days of collaborative work dedicated to the design and creation of clothing and accessories truly designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

The workshop includes:

• lessons on co-design, transformational design and soft materials
• training on digital manufacturing processes and practical rapid prototyping sessions
• support in project development, from conception to the creation of working prototypes

The goal is clear: to co-design, not design for but with people with disabilities, creating innovative solutions for real challenges such as tactile and pressure hypersensitivity, thermoregulation difficulties or motor limitations.

Send your registration here!