Three weeks of lessons, for a total of 80 hours, dedicated to sustainable fashion in all its aspects: this is the main subject of the second edition of New Sustainable Fashion, a short course by Milano Fashion Institute (an inter-university association of Bocconi University, Cattolica University and Milan’s Polytechnic). The project, started on 27th August, will conclude on 28th September, when the participating students will be the protagonists of the final networking event at Milan’s Patagonia store in Corso Garibaldi.

The course gives Italian and international talents the opportunity to follow lessons in sustainable fashion and to visit a few factories and organizations operating in the sector, like Eurojersey, Candiani Denim and Ermengildo Zegna. Cittadellarte has also contributed to the project hosting a workshop dedicated to circular economy in the Fashion B.E.S.T.’s Studios, where the participating students learnt in particular how to use natural substances to dye fabrics, so as to apply the techniques of upcycling.

We’ve asked two of the participants for a feedback about the educational experience: “At Cittadellarte, – explains Francisca Gajardo, from Chile – I have seen working on concepts that, as an upcycler, I share. For example the interconnection between different areas like art and fashion, coming together for the common good”. Digna Verster, from the Netherlands, echoes her words: “After the theoretical lessons in the classroom, it was nice to physically experiment with actual vegetable dyes. This course might be very useful for my future, since I am soon due to start an internship on sustainable fashion at the UN”.

(In the pictures: Francisca Gajardo, on the left, and Digna Verster)

We also spoke to Francesca Romana Rinaldi, director of the master in Brand and Business Management at Milano Fashion Institute and the 2018 course “New Sustainable Fashion”: “As for the previous edition, – she explains – the course has greatly benefited from the collaboration with Cittadellarte, the United Nations, Patagonia, Vogue Talents and Gucci. The workshop on circular fashion was particularly useful for the students to better understand how to do actual upcycling and to experiment with sustainable fibres and fabrics through an approach to vegetable dyes”.

Please click here for info about the course.