Quite a lot of work: There’s so much effort that goes into a single piece of clothing

Clothes make the man—this was the theme of Class 5a’s activities, as the students, together with their art teacher Ines Vielhaben, immersed themselves in the world of fashion and tailoring. For six weeks, the students learned about the history of fashion, explored the work of fashion designers, and got hands-on experience themselves. They sewed a cell phone case by hand and were taught by Ines Vielhaben how to use a sewing machine. Proud and happy—as is clearly evident in the photos—they later presented their sewing projects.

Ethical issues related to textile processing and clothing production were also discussed. By trying their hand at sewing themselves, the girls and boys gained an appreciation for just how labor-intensive it is to make a garment. They also discussed global clothing production conditions and the associated costs. According to Ines Vielhaben, this allowed the topics of ethics and art to be integrated with the activities of the sewing workshop, which, incidentally, also prepares the costumes for the 5th-grade musical performances.