partners – localinternational

Since its inception in 2014, 72 fashion designers and fashion students from Germany and Bangladesh have been selected to join local international on four local international exchange projects so far. local international°4, the latest edition, took place as a digital semester from May 2020 to September 2020.

local international projects offer a dynamic and inspiring syllabus reaching from symposiums and lectures to practical workshops and site visits to best practice examples of ethical and sustainably producing fashion companies. Within the project, extended research visits to Berlin and Dhaka were conducted as well as a digital semester in 2020.

founders

local international is led by Prof Heike Selmer.

local international was founded in 2014 by Prof Heike Selmer, Professor for Fashion Design at weißensee kunsthochschule Berlin and co-founder of greenlab, the Laboratory for Sustainable Design Strategies at weißensee kunsthochschule berlin and Prof Valeska Schmidt-Thomsen, Professor of Fashion Design at Universität der Künste Berlin, dean of design and director of the Institute of Experimental Garment and Textile Design.

partner institutions

WEISSENSEE KUNSTHOCHSCHULE BERLIN

weißensee Academy of Art + Design Berlin, founded 1946, is the former East German Academy of Applied Arts. It has currently approx. 850 students. Weißensee is a University modelled after the Bauhaus tradition. The strong emphasis on combining theory, art and practice was laid more than 50 years ago. Still today all first year students start with a one-year interdisciplinary programme covering the basic principles of Art and Design. The exchange of ideas between the different disciplines is encouraged and also supported by the school’s 13 workshops and studios which are open all year round to students of all disciplines, offering them an opportunity to explore ideas in practice. Award winning alumni of the Fashion Department include: William Fan.
c.neeon, Isabel Vollrath, Perret Schaad, Sadak, schmidttakahashi and Michael Sontag.

UNIVERSITÄT DER KÜNSTE BERLIN

Berlin University of the Arts was founded 1699 and has currently approx. 3800 students. It is one of the biggest, most diversified and traditional universities of the arts world-wide. The teaching offered at the four colleges of Fine Art, Design, Music and Performing Arts as well as at the Central Institute of Further Education encompasses the full spectrum of the arts and related academic studies in more than 40 departments. Thanks to its excellent artistic and creative training, every year around 600 potential freelancers or company founders leave the university – meaning that Berlin University of the Arts represents a driving force for the creative industries in Berlin.

GOETHE-INSTITUT BANGLADESH

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach.
It promotes knowledge of the German language abroad and fosters international cultural cooperation and conveys a comprehensive image of Germany by providing information about its cultural, social and political life. The cultural and educational programmes offered by the institute encourage intercultural dialogue and enable cultural involvement. They strengthen the development of structures in civil society and foster worldwide mobility.
With a strong network of Goethe-Instituts, Goethe Centres, cultural societies, reading rooms and exam and language learning centres, the Goethe-Institut has been the first point of contact with Germany for many for over sixty years. The long-lasting partnerships with leading institutions and individuals in over ninety countries create enduring trust in Germany. The Goethe-Institute sees itself as partners for all who actively engage with Germany and its culture, working independently and without political ties. In Bangladesh, the Goethe-Institut has been active since 1961.

GERMAN FEDERAL FOREIGN OFFICE

local international °4 was supported in 2020 by The German Federal Foreign Office.
The Federal Foreign Office is the Foreign Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany and responsible for Germany’s foreign policy and relationships.

BGMEA UNIVERSITY OF FASHION & TECHNOLOGY (BUFT)

Established in March 2012, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) is a university of Bangladesh dedicated to the development of human resources for the ready-made garment (RMG) and textile sectors of the country. It was functioning from 1999 under the name of BGMEA Institute of Fashion & Technology (BIFT) with the affiliation of National University. In order to cater to the needs of the RMG and textile sector, BUFT offers academic and skill development programmes at five faculties (Apparel & Textile Engineering, Fashion & Technology, Science & Engineering, Business Studies, Arts & Social Science) with more than 20 departments. BUFT has currently approx. 4.000 students. 750 students are studying at the Fashion Design and Technology Department, where they have the opportunity to participate in (inter)national programmes, fashion shows and design competitions. BUFT collaborates with universities and organisations in different parts of the world to promote and strengthen its academic training and research activities as well as achieving an international standard.

NATIONAL CRAFTS COUNCIL OF BANGLADESH (NCCB)

Bangladesh Jatiya Karushilpa Parishad, National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB), set up in 1985, is the apex body of individuals and organisations engaged in the field of craft research and development. It is registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is the National Entity Member of the World Crafts Council – WCC and WCC Asia Pacific Region.
Its mandate is to organise programmes to develop and promote the craft sector, maintaining the integrity of craft traditions and supporting sustainable livelihood for the craft community of the country. Its multidisciplinary membership includes craftspeople, researchers, development activists and the media. It is important to note that after agriculture, crafts employ the highest numbers of people – men and women – particularly in the rural areas.