Women & Textiles Expo

Women & Textiles Expo is a day-long event celebrating women at the forefront of the handmade textile movement as leaders, designers, makers, textile engineers, authors, and purveyors of culture. The event includes presentations, hands-on workshops, installation art, a maker marketplace, and an innovative wearable arts runway show. Women and those who identify as women are welcome to participate.

Participants may apply to one or both categories: Makers' Marketplace or Wearable Arts Runway Show. Entry fees are $20 for Makers' Marketplace or $20 for Wearable Arts Runway Show, with an additional $75 non-refundable booth fee for accepted marketplace makers. Applicants must be 18 years or older. Work will be juried by fiber and textile experts based on digital images. All work must be handmade, original, and either fiber in content or executed in a fiber technique or inspired by fiber and textiles. Works manufactured commercially, through commercial kits, or commercial patterns will not be allowed.

For Makers' Marketplace: 20 booth spaces are available (8' x 5' with electricity). Artists must be present; no representatives allowed. Booths may be shared by two participants if both are juried into the show. For Wearable Arts Runway Show: Designers may submit 1-5 garments. Garments must be made for a human model who can safely climb steps and walk on a runway. Previously shown work in New England is not eligible. All accepted designers and models must attend the mandatory dress rehearsal on Friday, March 22 at 6:00pm. Award categories include Professional, Experimental, and Student, with cash awards: Best in Show $250, Best Professional $100, Best Experimental Design $100, Best Student $100. Entry submission deadline is January 15, 2019. Decision notification is January 20, 2019. The event takes place on Saturday, March 23, 2019, 10:00am–8:00pm at UTEC (United Teen Equality Center), 35 Warren St. Lowell, MA 01852.