Material Activation Lab is Public Thread’s hands on platform for turning recovered textiles into real products, systems, and opportunities.
Each Lab brings together a small group of designers, artists, and makers to work directly with a specific material, experimenting, building, and developing outcomes that can actually be produced, sold, or scaled.
This isn’t just exploration.
It’s a structured process designed to help you take an idea and turn it into something real, while uncovering new ways to use materials that would otherwise go to waste.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place projects will receive additional cash awards
Selected work may be considered for further development, production, or release through Public Thread.
Each selected participant will receive:
• $250 stipend to support design and development
• Access to reclaimed materials (t-shirt textiles provided)
• Studio access to machines, tools, and workspace
• Guidance on developing market-ready work
• Opportunity to take your product further beyond the Lab
• Projects must be made with at least 50% reclaimed t-shirt material
• Remaining materials can be selected based on your concept and approach
• Learn more in "Lab Details" below
Lab Details Here
Material Activation Lab Goals
- Find creative solutions for our community’s textile waste.
- Build relationships with designers and artists across the community.
- Support local Artists/Designers financially and help raise awareness about their
- Test new upcycled product ideas and market solutions using upcycled textiles
LAB Timeline
1) Material Activation Lab Announced March 2nd
2) All Project Applications Due by March 27th
3) Top 20 Participants Announced on April 3rd via email. First payment to artists will be made.
4) Showcase Set-up May 9th - 13th (All work must be set up no later than 4pm May 13th)
5) Showcase Event May 15th from 5pm - 9pm. Second payment to all artists who participate in the showcase will be issued. The top 3 winners will also receive prize payments at this time. (Judging will be done by local industry experts, artists, designers, and community leaders.)
Selected participants will have access to open studio hours at Public Thread and a curated supply of the highlighted textiles for their projects. In addition, participants will take part in a small group session covering market ready standards, production considerations, and pathways to opportunity, helping ensure their work meets Material Activation Lab guidelines.
Possible Catagories
- Accessories
- Art Avant Garde
- Home Goods
- Apparel/Wearables
- Textile processing or reclamation (the process is the product)
We are not looking for things that are already in the marketplace. We are looking for new, unique ideas/ designs/ processes so that we can help you bring them to market. Either by partnering with Public Thread or by assisting you in partnership opportunities.
Evaluation Criteria
- Quality
- Concept execution
- Story/POV
- Use of materials
- Visual interest
- Percentage of highlighted lab material
Awards
1st Place — $300
2nd Place — $225
3rd Place — $150
Honorable Mention — Recognition + Feature
Legal/Fine Print
- The designs created through this Activation Lab will be co-branded with both the
Artist/Designer as the headliner and Public Thread as the collaborator. - Items that are made through the lab can be priced to sell based on their value, as
determined by the Artist. Whatever the sale price is, the Artist will receive 80% of
the sale price and 20% will go to Public Thread to support future MAL events. - If a product is determined by the Artist and Public Thread to be a market ready
product and it goes to market, (manufactured by Public Thread, or the Artist), there will be a revenue sharing agreement created to determine the split of revenue appropriately between the two parties.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Public Thread
955 Godfrey Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mon - Fri, Appointment Only
Saturday, Closed
Sunday, Closed
