make-a-thek Bus Brings Circular Making to European Communities
The European project make-a-thek launches a mobile makerspace bus, bringing circular fashion and repair skills to communities across Europe.
Berlin, 7 April 2026 – The European project make-a-thek is launching a mobile makerspace bus to bring circular fashion, repair skills, and creative technologies directly to communities across Europe. Following the first pilot workshops in public libraries, the bus will travel to towns and rural areas, bringing hands-on experiences in sustainable making directly to communities.
make-a-thek Bus Tour
Equipped with tools, machines, and workshop kits, the bus will travel in three regions: Germany, Poland, Czech Republic – May/June
Baltic States – August/September
Northern Spain & Portugal – October/November
The tour will kick off at re:publica in Berlin, 18-20 May 2026, where attendees can get a first impression of the bus, explore workshops, activities, and tools, and learn all the details about the upcoming journey. Along the way, the bus will host hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and collaborative events, connecting heritage crafts with digital innovation and ensuring access to circular learning beyond major cities. Read more
Pilot Workshops Across Europe
make-a-thek pilot libraries in Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Helsinki, Kranj, Kyiv, Milan, Opole, Reykjavík, and Zaporizhzhia are hosting the first workshops, ranging from established makerspaces expanding into circular design to new co-created spaces. For example, Reykjavík City Library recently ran a workshop titled “Smelly Feet Textiles”, teaching participants how to transform old socks into new textile structures. View Calendar
“We learn more about projects that are happening in Reykjavík and also meet with
the user of the library that has the antenna on for proactive consumption and the
circular economy.” Ilmur Dögg Gísladóttir, library manager Gerðuberg Library Reykjavík
Open Call: Training of Trainers programme
Apply Now: Become a make-a-thek Trainer! The make-a-thek project is looking for 18 passionate participants to join its immersive trainer programme. Learn to run hands-on workshops, engage communities, and bring circular making and sustainable creativity to life—no prior expertise needed!
What is make-a-thek?
make-a-thek is a European Horizon project developing modular, replicable makerspaces in public libraries, focused on fashion and crafts. It promotes open access to circular design through community co-creation, combining heritage skills with digital tools.
Piloted across Europe and beyond, it aims to:
● empower a new generation of sustainable makers and prosumers
● position libraries as hubs for circular innovation and learning
● preserve heritage crafts through digital technologies
● foster local collaboration and sustainable creativity
All tools, concepts, and materials are open source, enabling easy adoption by libraries and community spaces.
The project is also part of the New European Bauhaus ecosystem, and will
participate in the New European Bauhaus Festival in Brussels in 2026.
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Press Contact:
Carina Bischof, Fashion Revolution Germany fashionrevolution@future.fashion