0-93. Lab - Supporting the next generation of creatives in Seine-Saint-Denis
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June 30, 2025
0-93. Lab - Supporting the next generation of creatives in Seine-Saint-Denis
Since 2019, the non-profit 0-93. Lab has offered free workshops which introduce young people in Seine-Saint-Denis to fashion design and visual arts practices. Thanks to Kering’s support, the Lab has now been able to open a space in the Cité des 3000 area of Aulnay-sous-Bois. Take a peek behind the scenes of this future-oriented partnership.
Created in 2019, 0-93. Lab aims to democratize access to careers in fashion and the visual arts. Its ambition: to provide support which will bridge the gap and break down barriers to help young people in Greater Paris who dream of working in the luxury sector.
The project was originally conceived by Bastien Laurent, a fashion designer from Aulnay-sous-Bois and the creator of Avoc. In 2017, his brand won the Creative Label Prize from the National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts (ANDAM). He remembers feeling out of step with his peers at the time, as if he were “culturally isolated.”
“At the time, there wasn’t as much diversity as there is today. I wanted to find a way to connect the work that I was doing every day with the place that I came from,” he explains.
In 2019, he and his childhood friend Christopher Lila started 0-93. Lab: introductory fashion and design workshops for young people from Aulnay-sous-Bois and Sevran.
Portfolios, networking and mentorships
The Lab has three goals: to help young creatives build a portfolio that will allow them to apply to fashion and design schools, to offer them the opportunity to meet professionals so they can begin to build a network, and, of course, to spark their creativity.
Students are recruited via a large-scale poster campaign in the Aulnay and Sevran areas, as well as through presentations at middle schools, high schools, and local youth centers. In 2019, 0-93. Lab welcomed its first group of students. For a year, every Saturday, eighteen students aged fourteen to twenty-one were introduced to design, photography, and graphic design by professionals from the founders’ network: fashion designers, couturiers, graphic designers, photographers, etc.
In 2021, Bastien Laurent contacted the Diversity and Inclusion team at Kering in search of partners. This marked the beginning of a series of discussions, which culminated in 2023 with the signing of a three-year partnership agreement aimed at supporting the program's development. An initial collaboration took shape through Kering Perspectives, a seminar on inclusive leadership for the Group's senior executives. These discussions gave rise to a mentorship program, which took place between July 2024 and January 2025, during which thirteen young creatives received support from executives who had participated in the seminar. “There were some amazing exchanges” recalls Bastien Laurent. “They really helped to develop the mentees' soft skills which are crucial for communicating with a mentor, for building a network, and for learning how to accept advice... I remember struggling with this myself when I was younger: I didn't know the rules.”
A new space for culture and creation
On June 27, 2025, 0-93. Lab opened a 325 m2 space in the Cité des 3000. The space was renovated and outfitted thanks to the support of Kering and the Lab’s other partners. In addition to seven industrial sewing machines, the studio is completely equipped for dyeing, screen printing, and embroidery projects. Eventually, the space will also house a creative studio for photoshoots. On top of the classes it offers, the Lab also plans to host the public for exhibitions and master classes. The goal: to create a cultural space open to all.
“ This partnership with 0-93. Lab embodies our sincere commitment to the transmission of know-how. By fostering mentorship for young talents, we encourage the emergence of a new creative generation, thereby contributing to the promotion of the unique craftsmanship within our industry.”
Thanks to its new facilities, the Lab hopes to continue to grow, especially through collaborations with fashion houses: in May 2025, a dozen designers from Balenciaga led workshops on cutting and pattern making with a vintage theme. Seven students aged between eighteen and twenty-five received symbolic diplomas attesting to this exceptional training, which they will be able to include on résumés and applications. More and more of the young creatives who have gotten their start at the Lab are successfully entering the fashion industry: “Some have gone on to study at schools such as the Institut Français de la Mode, the École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle – Les Ateliers, or Sciences Po Paris; some work for communication, production, or event agencies; and others have started their own businesses,” explains Bastien Laurent. “I often receive calls or messages from contacts who tell me that they’ve interviewed someone who’s been a part of the Lab.” The network is well and truly in place.
