Who can apply
This Lab is open to everyone
- Makers & Artists,
- Product Designers,
- Fashion Designers,
- Students
- Creative practitioners
You do not need to identify as a professional artist or designer.
MATERIAL ACTIVATION LAB
Transformrecovered leatherinto something new
The final Material Activation Lab of 2026 invites artists, designers, and makers to transform recovered leather hides into original products, prototypes, artworks, and experiments.
Current Lab
MAL: Leather
Artists, makers, product designers, fashion designers, students, and creative practitioners are invited to explore recovered leather hides through original products, prototypes, artworks, and material experiments.
Key dates
- Lab round
- Final Material Activation Lab of 2026
- Featured material
- Recovered leather hides
- Applications due
- October 5, 2026
- Selected artists notified
- October 9, 2026
- Material pickup
- October 12–16 · first $100 payment
- Projects due + display setup
- December 1–2, 2026
- Public showcase
- December 4, 2026
Applications open
Applications close October 5
Apply for the final Material Activation Lab of 2026 and turn recovered leather into new work.
--Days
--Hours
--Minutes
The process
How MAL works
Each Material Activation Lab gives artists and designers a focused material challenge, practical support, and a public platform for sharing what they create.
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Review the material brief
Each Lab begins with a reclaimed material, a creative challenge, and a defined timeline.
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Submit your idea
Apply with your proposed direction, relevant experience, and interest in working with the featured material.
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Develop your work
Selected participants receive materials, a stipend, studio access, tools, and support throughout the making period.
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Share the finished work
Projects are documented and presented through a public showcase, with some work considered for further development.
For MAL: Leather, selected participants receive recovered hides, a $250 stipend, making support, and a place in the December 4 public showcase.
MAL: Leather
The brief at a glance
Here is what you need to know before you apply—and what selected participants can expect.
50%
Minimum recovered-leather content
At least 50% of the finished project must use recovered leather.
What selected participants receive
- Recovered leather hides at no cost
- A $250 stipend: $100 at material pickup and $150 after completed project delivery
- Open Sew and studio access during scheduled times
- Leather instruction with Tandy Leather and check-ins with Public Thread staff
- A small-group Market Readiness Intensive
- Project documentation and a public showcase opportunity
Your MAL: Leather timeline
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1
September 21–October 5
Apply
Review the brief, watch the September 24 information video, and submit your application by October 5.
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2
October 9–16
Get selected + pick up materials
Artists are notified October 9. Pick up recovered leather and receive the first $100 payment October 12–16.
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3
October 20–November 30
Develop your project
Use Open Sew times, leather instruction, staff check-ins, and market-readiness support during the six-week making period.
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4
December 1–4
Deliver + showcase
Deliver your project and install your display December 1–2. Share the work at the December 4 showcase.
Project requirements
What you’ll deliver
- A completed project or resolved prototype
- A short project overview and a 150–250 word description
- Three to five project photos
- A material-use and impact statement
- A cost or pricing worksheet when relevant
- Display materials for the showcase
- Get the Official MAL Creative Brief Here
Additional Lab details
How projects are evaluated
- Creative response to the material brief
- Thoughtful use of recovered leather
- Craft, construction, and finish quality
- Function, usability, wearability, or presentation quality
- Originality and strength of concept
- Potential for further development or production
- Clarity of story, process, and material transformation
Ownership and documentation
- Participants retain ownership of their original creative work unless a separate agreement is made.
- Public Thread and Public Thread Lab may photograph, document, promote, and share the work, process, and participant story for program, marketing, grant, fundraising, and archival purposes.
- Any future production, licensing, sale, or release of selected work requires a separate agreement.
- Participants must disclose collaborators, borrowed assets, restrictions, or third-party rights connected to their work.
Where can I find the Creative Material Brief?
Click this link to open a new window and download you copy for free today.
Applications are open
Apply for MAL: Leather
Tell us what you want to make, the experience you will bring, and how you plan to work with recovered leather. Applications are open to creative practitioners across disciplines.
- Application deadline
- October 5, 2026
- Estimated time
- 8–10 minutes
Click the button below to complete the MAL: Leather application. If you have questions about the application or the program, please contact us.
MAL: Leather FAQ
Who can apply?
MAL: Leather is open to makers, artists, product designers, fashion designers, students, and other creative practitioners. You do not need to identify as a professional artist or designer.
Do I need experience working with leather?
No. You should have the making skills needed to safely complete your proposed project, but prior leather-specific experience is not required. Selected participants will have access to leather instruction and project support.
How much recovered leather must I use?
At least 50% of the finished project must use recovered leather.
How does the $250 stipend work?
Selected participants receive $100 at material pickup and the remaining $150 after delivering the completed project.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
Projects may include products, prototypes, fashion, accessories, home goods, functional objects, soft goods, sculpture, installations, artworks, or material experiments.
What dates must selected participants attend?
Participants should plan to pick up materials October 12–16, deliver their completed project and install their display December 1–2, and participate in the December 4 public showcase. Open Sew times, instruction, and check-ins will be scheduled throughout the development period.
