FIAR’26 | fashion innovation, active research
On 29 and 30 April, the School of Applied Arts (ESART) at the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB) is hosting another FIAR [fashion innovation, active research], an international event focused on innovation and sustainability that brings together all aspects of fashion and textile design.
By integrating theory and practice, the event seeks to adapt to real needs and current market trends, promoting research within the industry in emerging areas and encouraging future designers to explore new ideas.
Highlights of the 2026 edition, in Auditorium 1 of ESART-IPCB, include talks by Alexandra Cabral (PONTE – International Fashion and Performance Encounter) and Maria Tamayo (The Architecture of Silence), as well as fashion designers Roya Mary and Filipa Bento, alongside a on the challenges facing the fashion and textile sectors, featuring Sara Valério (CIBCB – Castelo Branco Embroidery Interpretation Centre), Mariana Esteves (Friends of the Hospital League), Jorge Esteves (GRASIL) and the Papaya Agency.
The sustainable fashion show, organised by second-year students on the Bachelor’s degree course in Fashion and Textile Design, will take place in the bar area as weather conditions do not permit it to be held outdoors; the same applies to the sunset event organised by the ESART Academic Association.
The workshops are spread across various rooms at ESART and the School of Technology, covering Castelo Branco embroidery (embroiderers from CIBCB), lingerie (Júlia Freire), budgeting (Cristina Almeida), artificial intelligence and fashion styling (Magda Mendes).
Meanwhile, the main lobby and corridors of ESART host exhibitions of scarves (1st year), shirts (2nd year), busts, pattern-making, accessories, final collections (3rd year) and trend books (Master’s in Fashion and Textile Design).
📍Location: ESART-IPCB
📅 Date: 29 and 30 April 2026
🕝 Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
