LANIFICIO DI SORDEVOLO INDUSTRY PROJECT | MASTER FABRICS INNOVATION DESIGN

Our MA in Fabrics Innovation Design students have just completed their Industry Project in collaboration with the Lanificio di Sordevolo, presenting their design proposals during the Final Presentation.

Titled “The Wardrobe of an Icon – Designing a character’s wardrobe starting from fabric”, the project was led by Project Leader Giampiero Arcese and placed fabric at the very centre of the creative process — not merely as a supporting element, but as a true generator of aesthetic, narrative and identity-driven language.

As highlighted in the brief, fabric is interpreted as a “reflection of the wearer’s culture”, a material capable of defining not only the shape of a garment, but also its communicative power.

During the final presentation, students showcased their wardrobe systems developed through in-depth research into iconic figures from contemporary culture and fashion history. Each project translated the identity of the chosen character into a coherent collection of garments, where textile research, material experimentation and stylistic design converged into a unified design language.

The working methodology emphasised the dialogue between material and storytelling: textures, weights, structures and textile patterns were explored as tools to construct recognisable and contemporary visual identities. This approach enabled students to reflect on the role of fabric as a foundational element within the fashion system, capable of anticipating and guiding the development of silhouettes and volumes.

Cultural references ranging from David Bowie to Lady Gaga, from Zendaya to Timothée Chalamet, and Rihanna, offered students a wide spectrum of interpretative possibilities, highlighting how a wardrobe can become a narrative device capable of shaping complex imaginaries across fashion, media and pop culture.

The collaboration with Lanificio di Sordevolo also enriched the project with a tangible industrial perspective, allowing students to engage with production processes, material quality, and the application potential of textiles within the contemporary fashion system.

The Final Presentation therefore represented a moment of synthesis between research, design and experimentation, confirming the value of the dialogue between academic education and industry as a driving force for innovation in the textile and fashion sector.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the entire team at Lanificio di Sordevolo for this wonderful opportunity and for their continuous support of our students.