Turning dismessed materials into pieces of art work: find out about the “Dis-cycling” project
How a discarded material coming from window installations can be deconstructed to find a second life in a completely new context and in the form of a work of art? “Dis-cycling” is the answer!
THE PROJECT & THE PARTNERS
“Dis-cycling • The seductive allure of creativity in sustainability” – realized in collaboration with Istituto Marangoni Fashion School Firenze, FENDI and the New York artist Sarah Coleman.
The project involved, under the creative direction of New York artist Sarah Coleman, a number of students from the Istituto Marangoni Fashion School Firenze in a process of recovering materials previously used in FENDI’s boutiques window installations. The idea was to place the material at the centre of the creative process, thinking about how a discarded material could have been deconstructed to find new life in a completely new context and in the form of a work of art.
THE BOOTCAMP
Starting from the brainstorming phase to the final execution, the students had the opportunity to participate to online and in-person meetings with Sarah Coleman, FENDI managers and Istituto Marangoni tutors.
In July, it was organized a bootcamp in Florence where the students got inspired to rethink the FENDI house codes by unfolding their inventiveness, letting their imagination wild free and experimenting freely with the materials. Four days of pure creativity!
THE FINAL RESULT
On October 12th – the official opening of the new FENDI Factory in Bagno di Ripoli (right outside the city centre of Florence), during the event of Les Journées Particulières – an interdisciplinary group of alumni and students from Istituto Marangoni Firenze showcased the final results of the project.
The event was attended also by Antoine Arnault, Silvia Venturini Fendi and the mayor of Florence Dario Nardella.
Reusing and upcycling FENDI discarded materials and fabrics gave life to a multi-sensory phygital installation consisting of a cocoon covered in woven quilts, crochet pieces, kitted strings, a leather patchwork carefully assembled, plastic assemblages and braided nappa threads. The interdisciplinary cocoon hosts also a 3D video. The installation will be displayed at the new FENDI Factory.
THE ROLE OF PARDGROUP IN THE PROJECT
In Pardgroup we pay particular attention to sustainability and we usually aim to achieve our goals by partnering with certified suppliers and by choosing recyclable and eco-friendly materials. Anyway, every year, we come to destroy more than 180 tons of dismessed material previously used in shop fittings, windows and POS displays without being able to give them a second life.
This is where the “Dis-cycling” project came into play, aiming to combine creativity with sustainability, in favor of a circular economy. We were delighted to participate to this initiative. We saw it as a brilliant opportunity not only to give a second life to materials that otherwise would be dismissed, but to turn them into real pieces of art. We liked the idea to encourage an eco-sustainable and environmentally conscious attitude, supporting at the same time young talents in their creativity and innovative approach.
It was all so exciting and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of it!
