Materials Matter: Textile Transformations

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, and they have often passed through many pairs of hands, transformed each time before they become the final product we that we buy. 

This journey starts with the plants, animals, or chemical processes that give us materials like cotton, viscose, wool, or polyester. These fibers become thread, thread becomes fabric, fabrics become finished products, and finished products become cherished or symbolic items. While each transformation brings cultural and emotional significance, 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, in partnership with Magnum Photos, we are looking for photographers interested in exploring the way we transform textiles, and how textiles in turn transform us.

By placing these themes at the center of the story, the initiative hopes to reframe the way we relate to their social, cultural, and environmental implications. It is about altering our attitude towards these everyday items, all while providing a springboard for emerging talent to embrace a more human approach to visual storytelling.

What the Winners Receive 

The overall winner will receive a commission to the value of £8,000 for Textile Exchange to document the stories behind some of its members as well as a mentorship with a leading talent from Magnum's network of photographers.

One runner-up will 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 in an original exhibition at the Textile Exchange Conference. Held annually, the event brings over 800 brands, retailers, and suppliers together to ensure that fashion, textiles, and apparel are produced in a way that supports our planet, its ecosystems, its landscapes, and its communities.  

About Textile Exchange 

Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving positive impact on climate change across the fashion, textile and apparel industry. We guide a growing community of brands, manufacturers and farmers towards more purposeful production, right from the start of the supply chain.​

Our goal is to help the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in the emissions that come from producing fibers and raw materials by 2030. To get there, we are keeping our focus holistic and interconnected, accelerating the adoption of practices that improve the state of our water, soil health, and biodiversity too.  ​ ​

For real change to happen, everyone needs a clear path to positive impact. That's why we believe that approachable, step-by-step instruction paired with collective action can change the system to make preferred fibers and materials an accessible default, mobilizing leaders through attainable strategies, proven solutions, and a driven community.  ​ ​

At Textile Exchange, materials matter. To learn more, visit textileexchange.org.

About Magnum

The Magnum Photos agency represents some of the world's most renowned photographers, maintaining its founding ideals and idiosyncratic mix of journalist, artist, and storyteller. Its photographers share a vision to chronicle world events, people, places, and culture with a powerful narrative that defies convention, shatters the status quo, redefines history, and transforms lives.   

For more than 70 years Magnum has been creating the highest quality photographic content for an international client base of media, charities, publishers, brands, and cultural institutions. The Magnum library is also a living archive updated regularly with new work from across the globe.   

Since 2007 Magnum has been committed to developing the next generation of visual storytellers. They have programmed unique events focusing on education and professional development for photographers across the world.   

How to Enter

Applicants should submit at least one photo story (but a maximum of two), consisting of up to 25 images per story. They should also include an artist statement and CV. 

The competition is open to any early career photographer regardless of age and nationality with an interest for the topics at the center of Materials Matter.