NEW

Language

Spanish

Start date

July 2027

Frequency

Part-time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

5 days

Credits

25 Hours

Price

1.300 €

Discover how to develop bags, accessories and other fashion pieces using artisanal techniques, natural materials and responsible production processes that bring together tradition, innovation and contemporary design.

The Summer Course in Sustainable Fashion Accessories Design and Production introduces you to the design and creation of fashion accessories from a slow approach, where every decision—from the choice of materials to final production—is guided by principles of sustainability, circularity and quality. You will learn to work with natural fibres and recycled materials, exploring artisanal techniques adapted to contemporary design.

At a time when the fashion industry is seeking more responsible models, understanding artisanal production processes and the value of traditional crafts has become a distinctive advantage for designers and creatives. This course offers a practical introduction to a discipline with limited opportunities for intensive, in-person training, combining design, craftsmanship and sustainability in a unique learning experience.

Over the course of one week, you will learn the fundamentals of slow fashion accessories design, the properties of plant-based fibres, key basketry and weaving techniques, the creative process, the technical development of a product and the principles of responsible production.

Through practical workshops and an applied project, you will experiment with materials, tools and traditional techniques to develop your own proposal, learning how to transform an idea into a viable accessory from a creative, technical and production perspective.

Information to decide

A unique course in Bilbao to discover how fashion accessories design can combine creativity, craftsmanship and sustainability, learning directly from professionals specialised in slow production.

The course covers all stages of developing a sustainable fashion accessory: from inspiration and research to production, the preparation of technical specifications and the final presentation of the project.

Its methodology is based on project-based learning, combining theoretical content with practical workshops where students experiment with natural fibres, traditional techniques and design processes applied to real-life cases.

The programme is coordinated by Idoia Cuesta, a renowned contemporary basket maker who has developed projects for brands such as Loewe, Adolfo Domínguez and Zara Home, bringing a perspective that combines contemporary craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability.

The course requires basic knowledge of design, particularly in fashion design or product design.

It is especially aimed at:

  • Students of fashion design, product design or related disciplines who want to expand their knowledge of sustainable fashion accessories production.
  • Fashion designers interested in incorporating artisanal and sustainable processes into their projects.
  • Product designers who want to explore the application of slow techniques to the field of fashion.
  • Artisans and professionals working in traditional crafts who want to bring their knowledge into contemporary fashion accessories design.
  • People with an interest in fashion and design who want to develop personal projects or pursue entrepreneurship from a responsible perspective.

The Summer Course in Sustainable Fashion Accessories Design and Production offers an unusual approach within design education, bringing together fashion accessories design, traditional artisanal techniques, sustainability and slow production in a single programme.

Its intensive, in-person and highly practical format allows students to work directly with materials and processes, understanding the value of craftsmanship and its application to contemporary design.

Studying this course at IED Kunsthal Bilbao means becoming part of a school committed to sustainability, innovation and the connection between different design disciplines, in an environment where creativity and craftsmanship become tools for building a more responsible fashion industry.

Syllabus

Sustainable production and the craft of the artisan

Basketry plant fibres: properties, behaviour and possibilities

Creating a fibre sample collection

Tools

Introduction to the classification of traditional basketry

  • Rod basketry
  • Splint basketry
  • Mixed basketry
  • Coiled basketry

The brief

Creating an inspiration moodboard

Research and analysis of commercially available accessories produced using sustainable techniques

Practical introduction to weaving techniques

  • Random, intuitive or chaos technique
  • Looping technique
  • Plainting technique
  • Colling technique

Commonly used weaving techniques

The design process

Technical specifications

Production

Cost and time analysis

Project presentation

Faculty

Idoia Cuesta

News

06 October 2026

150 students begin the 2026–2027 Academic Year on IED Barcelona’s Master’s, Postgraduate and Foundation Courses

The Welcome Event for Master’s and Postgraduate students took place on 1 and 2 October, featuring a new edition of the “Designing for the Many” workshop and the opening lecture. Foundation students received their welcome on 5 October.

02 October 2026

AQU Catalunya grants favourable accreditation to IED Barcelona’s Bachelor of Arts in Design

Once again, IED Barcelona has received a favourable report from the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalunya), certifying the quality of the Bachelor of Arts in Design (Título de Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Diseño) delivered by the centre.

02 October 2026

IED Lands in Mexico with Federico Antelo

From 10 to 22 October, the IED Madrid Fashion Director brings talks and workshops to Mexico's top design events.

Fashion sketch with four male silhouettes

02 October 2026

IED Barcelona Alumni Albert Porta named finalist in Sangue Novo

ModaLisboa’s platform and competition for emerging young designers has selected him to present his collection “Branco” on 9 October at Pátio da Galé in Lisbon.

30 September 2026

Two IED Barcelona projects to be exhibited in "Matter Matters" at the Museu del Disseny-Dhub

During the 2026/27 academic year, “The Beetle Bottle” by Product Design alumnus Abdelaziz Moustafa will be featured in the Autumn/Winter exhibition, while “Mis queridos Ascos” by Fashion Design graduate Violeta Mata will be exhibited in the Spring/Summer edition.

29 September 2026

Six emerging IED designers reach the final stage of the Arts Thread Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2026

Alumni Mariona Panés, Sara Vainer, Miranda Sanz, Malak Yahia and Victoria Escobar (IED Barcelona), together with Zuriñe Berrueta (IED Kunsthal Bilbao), are finalists in the competition, which last year attracted more than 5,000 creatives from 117 countries. Discover their projects and vote!

28 September 2026

IED wins the YKK Prize at Milano Moda Graduate

Costanza Barbieri and Giulio Censori win the prize awarded by the event’s main sponsor. Gaia Karabits is also among the six finalists for the Fashion Design Award.

26 September 2026

THE PROCESS, IED fashion show at MFW '26

14 young designers and a collective vision of fashion as a cultural practice, beyond the garment. Special Mentor Danielle Kwateng.

24 September 2026

IED Madrid alumni Moisés Nieto Receives the Maison Pyramide Showroom Award at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid

The designer has been recognised with the Commercial Potential Award for his latest collection, presented at the 84th edition of the Madrid runway

Don't miss it

Two reusable bottles, one green and one yellow respectively.
Exhibitions and Festival

06 October 2026 - 01 September 2027

Barcelona

“The Beetle Bottle” and “Mis queridos Ascos” at “Matter Matters. Designing with the World”

The projects created by IED Barcelona alumni Abdelaziz Moustafa (Product Design) and Violeta Mata (Fashion Design) have been selected to be part of this exhibition at the Museu del Disseny-DHub.

Workshop

15 October 2026 - 15 October 2026

Multiple

IED Creative Workshop

Come and discover IED’s Creative Workshops — a unique experience that will let you immerse yourself in the world of design in a fun and creative way!

Illustration of a person holding various drawing tools, set against a yellow background.
Exhibitions and Festival

17 October 2026 - 17 October 2026

Barcelona

Barcelona Dibuixa 2026: “The Power of Hand Drawing”

IED Barcelona is offering this workshop, where participants will discover, guided by architect and lecturer Gianfranco La Cognata – Laco 2, how design takes shape through illustration.