On 11 June, the Institute of Design in Kielce hosted the creative Touch’n Match workshops, during which 20 blind and partially sighted participants explored the world of fashion and tested a mobile application supporting independent personal styling.
Under the guidance of fashion designer Anna Wesołowska and Anca Bălan, President of the Romanian Fashion Council and organiser of the Transilvania Fashion Festival, the participants created their own unique outfits, discovered the secrets of fashion and various fabrics, and tested the Touch’n Match mobile application. The app, based on NFC technology and artificial intelligence, was developed by Tudor Scripor, who introduced the participants to the colour alphabet and the application.
When a smartphone is placed near a tag with a tactile marking attached to a garment, the application provides voice information about the colour, size, type of fabric and its origin, washing and ironing instructions, recommendations on how to put an outfit together, and much more. In this way, it makes a real contribution to increasing the independence of people with visual impairments.
Volunteers also supported the participants in creating accessible fashion. The meeting gave them an opportunity to better understand the needs of people with disabilities and to help break down barriers.
At the end of the workshop, the participants presented the outfits they had created during a mini fashion show and shared their impressions in a discussion summarising the event. They also received commemorative certificates.
The workshops were not only a space full of inspiration, ideas and good fun while experimenting with personal style, but also made a real contribution to building confidence and independence. New technologies in the world of fashion are breaking down further barriers.
A photo report from the event is available below.
The event was also covered by TVP Kielce, Radio Fama, Radio Kielce and emkielce.pl.
Project partners:
Asociatia Polylogos
Asociatia Alfabetul Scripor
Asociatia Romanian Fashion Council
Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
