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MassArt Fashion Design Creative Collaboration in Laos

A person with curly brown hair and an orange scarf, perhaps a first-time undergraduate in fashion design, examines a gray coat on a mannequin in a workshop setting, surrounded by sewing materials and dress forms.

Yes, they met new people, tasted the food, and took in the landscape. But students who traveled to Laos with Fashion Chair Jennifer Varekamp also worked hand-in-hand with local artisans to support their creative entrepreneurial efforts.

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MassArt Travel Course, "Laos: A Journey Into Culture and Craft through a Social Enterprise"

During January 2020, students experienced the mystical country of Laos through an integrative collaboration with the social enterprise, Ma Té Sai, as they travelled with Jennifer Varekamp, Professor of Fashion Design, to some of the northern villages and worked with artisans on collaborative projects.

The course explored the culture of Laos, through the people, the food and the varied landscape from the Mekong River to the Buddhist temples. Students participated in a variety of workshops on traditional handwork and explored the unique atmosphere of the UNESCO World Heritage City, Luang Prabang.

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Putting Heart into Creating: Student Spice Callahan Shares Her Story

MassArt Painting student Spice Callahan ’27 reflects on life experiences, discovering a passion for painting, and the transformative impact of scholarship support.

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A student spice Callahan with curly hair and glasses writes her story in a notebook by a sunlit window.

Designing Touch: Advancing Accessibility Through Art, Design, and Technology

Associate Professor of Fashion Design Cara Tuttle and MassArt students partnered with Tatum Robotics to design a specialized glove for a robotic hand that communicates through tactile ASL—expanding communication access for the DeafBlind community.

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A group of people pose and smile in front of a red wall with the MassRobotics logo. Three sit on a couch, with one holding a robot that highlights innovative design. Others stand behind them.
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