Merging Textiles with Technology
Professor Chiara Vincenzi, a CITL Fellow and Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is reimagining how fashion design is taught by merging traditional textile practices with emerging digital technologies. In partnership with the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL), Vincenzi integrates tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Open Brush, CLO3D, 3D printing, and virtual reality into her courses, encouraging students to master fashion fundamentals while exploring new, more sustainable ways to design and prototype garments. Her teaching emphasizes both craft and experimentation, helping students translate hand-drawn ideas into immersive, three-dimensional forms.
In a recent mini-documentary and interview, Vincenzi reflects on her journey from growing up in Italy surrounded by sewing and embroidery to leading innovative, tech-forward fashion projects at Illinois, including VR-designed garments, Met Gala–inspired looks, and experimental materials like biomaterials and algae yarn. She also shares her philosophy on preparing students for the future of the fashion industry—balancing digital fluency, creativity, and environmental responsibility. Read the full interview and watch the mini-documentary to learn more about Vincenzi’s work and how textiles and technology are coming together in the classroom: CITL—Merging Textiles and Technology.