Textile Exchange and Magnum Photos have announced the third edition of the competition for emerging photographers to submit a story under the theme Textile Transformations.
- The organisers are looking for emerging photographers interested in telling the visual stories that take place when fibres and materials are cultivated, created, spun, woven, sewn, loved and cherished—gaining cultural and emotional significance through the journey.
THE CONTEXT: Clothing and textiles connect us intrinsically to our planet and its many ecosystems, cultures, and communities. The materials used to make them come from farms, forests, or even oil from the earth—passing through many pairs of hands, transformed each time before they become the final product that we buy. But our collective appreciation of textiles often centres around the product itself, rather than where it came from, who created it, or what it has come to mean.
- That’s why the competition is about placing unexpected perspectives at the centre of the story, altering attitudes towards these everyday items, while providing a springboard for emerging talent to embrace a more human approach to visual storytelling.
- The deadline for submissions is 28 June 2024.
THE AWARDS: This year, the overall winner will receive a commission for Textile Exchange to the value of £8,000 to capture a story about material production around the world, as well as a mentorship with a leading talent from Magnum Photos’ network of photographers.
- One runner-up will also receive a commission to the value of £5,000 for Textile Exchange and coaching sessions with a Magnum photographer and the Magnum Photos Education team.
- The winning entries will also be showcased at the Textile Exchange Conference. Held annually, the event brings together leaders and experts from across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry, providing a space to collaboratively explore challenges and solutions to overcome the climate crisis.
THE JURY: Winners will be selected by a panel including Claire Bergkamp (CEO, Textile Exchange), Jérôme Sessini (Magnum Photographer), Sonia Jeunet (Education Director, Magnum Photos), William Simeone (Partnerships Manager, Magnum Photos), Zied Ben Romdhane (Magnum Photographer) and Joi Lee (Head of Editorial, Earthrise Studio).
