ABOUT T.VDB
T.VDB is the artist-led house of Belgian fashion designer and artist Tom Van der Borght. The studio questions the normal and builds new worlds across fashion, textile, sculpture, performance, installation, image and technology. Its practice moves between self-initiated artistic research, collectible works, exhibitions, performances and selected commissions. Interns enter a small, hands-on studio where research is translated into precise physical and public outcomes.

THE ROLE
Work inside T.VDB's body-led fashion and textile practice, where a garment may become a sculptural skin, performance tool, installation component or collectible object. You will contribute to live fashion, textile, exhibition, performance and commissioned workstreams, always within the approved scope and schedule of each assignment.

WHAT YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE
 

• Build focused visual and contextual research from a live brief, connecting non-normative bodies, identity, silhouette, movement, material, colour and cultural references.
   
• Develop directly on diverse and non-normative bodies, testing how proportion, movement, access and dressing change the design.
   
• Develop silhouettes and material systems through drawing, collage, draping, moulage, mock-ups and three-dimensional experimentation.
   
• Create textile and surface systems through embroidery, crochet, knitting, weaving, print, embellishment, manipulation, cotton research, reuse and upcycling according to the brief.
   
• Translate selected directions into resolved samples, toiles, prototypes, garments, sculptural skins, accessories, wearable elements or textile artworks.
   
• Contribute to pattern development, machine and hand sewing, fittings, corrections, construction planning and high-quality finishing according to your technical level.
   
• Document materials, techniques, recipes, timings, suppliers, patterns and decisions so successful experiments can be reproduced, costed and archived.
   
• Prepare work for fittings, reviews, shoots, partner presentations, performances and exhibitions, including careful labelling, packing, installation support and final corrections.

YOUR PROFILE
You are enrolled in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Costume Design, Material Design, Knitwear, Pattern Cutting or a closely related bachelor's or master's programme.
Your portfolio combines strong visual research with actual making and shows how an idea evolves beyond a moodboard.
You are interested in the relationship between body, silhouette, material, texture, construction and movement.
You have confident hand skills and experience in prototyping, sewing or textile development; pattern cutting, draping or machine-based textile skills are a plus.
You can move between intuitive experimentation and precise documentation, selection and finishing.
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign skills are useful. You work in an organised, resource-conscious way and communicate confidently in English.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
You will learn how T.VDB moves from a body-led question and live project brief to material research, silhouette, sample, prototype, fitting, finishing, documentation and public presentation. You will work inside the overlap of fashion, textile, art, performance and commissioned production.

HOW TO APPLY
Send the following to info@tomvanderborght.com with the role title in the subject line:
CV and short motivation.
Portfolio showing research and finished making: fashion, textile, costume, material experiments, patterns, garments, samples or relevant three-dimensional work.
Exact availability and confirmation that you can start on or close to the stated date.
School, programme and confirmation that an internship agreement, school or Erasmus+ insurance, NDA and IP agreement can be completed on time.
 

T.VDB welcomes applicants of all genders, backgrounds, nationalities, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, religions and identities. We value curiosity, care, collaboration and respect.