This summer we announced the launch of a new program supported by MacArthur Foundation in which Hive members in both NYC and Chicago would unify around a common theme–fashion–and bring Connected Learning principles to life. The charge is to develop programs and pathways that engage youth in creative production in fashion and multimedia storytelling. By linking youth interests with peer culture and potential academic and professional trajectories, the two-year Hive Fashion program aims to continue to inform this model of learning via innovative experiences for youth and a rich database of open source curricular resources.Now, we’re happy to announce the first round of Hive Fashion grantees! These projects range from wearable technology and documenting street fashion trends to creating a new teen apparel brand. Each will receive funds towards the development of their project and resources.

Brooklyn Public Library – NYC
What We Wear explores Brooklyn Hip Hop fashion through digital photography and style blogging, and will follow the library’s first major fashion exhibition and program series, Fashion Illustration: A Contemporary Look.

Cooper-Hewitt + Chris Bevans – NYC
A 24-session workshop builds fashion production skills leading to professional critiques and internships.

DreamYard + MIT Media Lab – NYC
Fashion Studio, which builds off this recent summer fashion intensive, blends creative expression and critical history with computationally programmable designs.

Eyebeam – NYC
Wearable tech becomes game controllers showcased in a teen-created Fashion Game Arcade, which builds on a recent grant awarded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Northwestern FUSE – Chicago
Re-Fashioning STEAM develops five new fashion-themed challenges for the self-guided FUSE project.

NYPL + The LAMP – NYC
In Deconstructing Fashion, teens will critically examine the fashion industry with multi-media responses.

NYSCI + Habitat Map + Parsons – NYC
Fashion Your Environment combines fashion and wearable technology to broadcast environmental data.

Street-Level Youth Media – Chicago
SL Fashion produces multimedia explorations of creative expression, identity, and community.

YMCA – Chicago
The Y will leverage and rebrand its Black & Latino Achievers program to build toward a teen brand from logo to apparel.

YMCA + MFTA – NYC 
Through DEFYNE teens use recycled textiles and materials for their sustainable eco-friendly designs.

Yollocalli Arts Reach – Chicago
Oh Snap, Represent fills a void in fashion through street-wear documentation from a teen perspective.

In addition to these programs that directly result in youth program development, Hive Fashion also awarded separate funds to Special Project Partners to help build collaborations between Hive and fashion/documentary professionals to create opportunities for youth internships, pilot programs, and design challenges. These partners are The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in NYC and YOUmedia in Chicago.

Progress on the development of these programs can be found at http://hivefashion.tumblr.com or by following @HiveFashion on Twitter. For more details please contact  ReFashionLearning@gmail.com.