Minimal Wast Exhibition “Utopia/Dystopia” Shares a New Vision For a Sustainable Future

Master in Sustainable Fashion Students Explore the Future of Fashion

Minimal Wast Exhibition “Utopia/Dystopia” Shares a New Vision For a Sustainable Future

Master in Sustainable Fashion Students Explore the Future of Fashion

“Utopia/Dystopia” portrays possible future settings through a variety of multisensory art pieces, creating an experience that explores these two extremes. The first-ever Master in Sustainable Fashion exhibition invites interpretation and reflection about what the future of fashion is or could be.

Utopia/juːˈtəʊpɪə/ (noun) Highly desirable place that possesses perfect qualities for its citizens, stimulates the thought of whether a perfect world can ever be realized.

Dystopia/dɪsˈtəʊpɪə/ (noun)As the antonym of utopia, an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice. Conditions of life in a dystopian society are characterized by human misery, poverty, oppression, violence, disease, and/or pollution.

“Utopia/Dystopia” is a minimal waste exhibition created by Master in Sustainable Fashion students. Everything featured or created for this midterm project was either digitalized or produced with existing up-cycled, recycled and/or bio-based materials. Master students wanted to encourage the viewer to become aware of their role and personal influence in the future of the fashion industry. They are asked to think about their consumption habits whilst observing artisanal works with a zero waste approach, drawing special attention to local economies.

From dark to light, from fabric to craft, from global to local, the contrast of Utopia/Dystopia will be the guiding light for a sustainable future.

The exhibition was featured in La Repubblica, Vogue Italia, Elle, L’Officiel and more. For a behind-the-scenes look at the creative journey of our Master in Sustainable Fashion students and a more in-depth look at the stories and materials featured in the exhibition, check out their Instagram.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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MASTER IN SUSTAINABLE FASHION STUDENTS

Creative Team


Allison Aniskina (United States/Russia)
Margaret Baughman (United States)
Alexandra Bucokova (Slovakia)
Lorena Perdomo Charris (Colombia)
Hatem Ben Hadj Hassine (Tunisia)
Itzel Sanclemente Fernandez (Mexico/Spain)
Debora Florio (Italy)
Ana Medina Magdaleno (Mexico)
Cristina Neagu (Moldova)
Emily Nicholson (United States)
Farzaneh Radmehr (Iran)
Razan Saad (Lebanon)
Julia Signore (Germany)
Tania Velàsquez (United States/Mexico)

Communications Team


Sofie Clauwers (Belgium)
Esther Dottelonde (France)
Marta Grabowska (Poland)
Martina Murasso (Belgium)
Zeynep Öztrak (Turkey)
Tara Paniogue (United States)
Sarah Phillips (United States)
Isabel June Rodela (United States)
Pauline Staats (Germany)
Elena Alessandra Vaia (Italy)

Budget Team

Mariana Bernal Gomez (Colombia/United States)
Federica Cavallari (Italy)
Lotte Van der Auwera (Belgium)
Diane Weber (France)

gallery

EXHIBITIONS

From 2 to 5

An interactive installation designed to provoke and create awareness about an individual’s consumption habits through a series of questions.
Material: Wooden frame booths with upcycled fabric curtains

Storytime

Story Time gives an insight on the rich heritage and history of the recycling traditions belonging to Prato. Through a series of interviews the project showcases the past, present and possible future of this forward thinking industry, with the aim of raising awareness and educating the audience on new recycling practices.
Material: LED TV Screens, video support.

The Banquet

The Banquet is an exploration of human connection to nature and displays manifestations of this connection. A dining table around which viewers gather, representing the equity that awaits society if it is able to re-engage with its connection to nature.
Material: Display case with photos, soil, seeds, plants, poems,and a scarf made of regenerative cotton.

Golosa

Inspired by the traditional game played by latino children, this version of “Golosa” aims to guide the spectator, by responding to various questions related to their consumption habits. By following the paths, these decisions will allow the visitors to discover the consumer group to which they belong.
Material: Vinyl stickers and moquette.

Cabinet of Crafts

A collection of artisanal works created by various artists and a natural couture-inspired dress made from crystals, highlights the importance of local production, with a minimal waste approach. The Florentine inspired design is made in a collaboration with artisans and designers who either use waste materials or who do not leave any waste material behind.
Material: Locally upcycled garments and clothing, jewelry, fashion accessories, sculpture.

For The Country

Dystopia, the hymn of fallen dreams. How can we talk about sustainability when some countries suffer from the lack of basic needs and rights? Originating from Lebanon, the artist documents this reality with the aim of spreading awareness and seeking justice for her community.••
Material: Video documentary.

Nature's Dream

Nature’s Dream is a video of surreal images which are recorded in different parts of the environment. The video depicts nature’s dream about the rooted connection between nature and humanity.
Material: Video projection on a printed fabric curtain.

Renaissance of Fashion of the 21st Century

Renaissance in Fashion: a time of rebirth and renewal in how we consume, create, and dispose of garments. By scanning the dress’s QR code, visitors can see the journey of how scraps turn into a masterpiece. The dress on display was created using zero-waste methods and deadstock fabric.
Material: Deadstock fabric and mannequin.

Future Torso

Molded with unconventional clay (from ashes of incinerated materials), this sculpture can later be used as a vessel for moss plantation. The artwork, inspired by Da Vinci’s sketch of Saint Sebastian and the Belvedere Torso, expresses human resilience and how life can once grow again from what was long dead.
Material: Unconventional clay (from ashes of incinerated materials).

Cenciaiolo

This recorded meditation explores the workload of a Cenciaiolo, a historical profession in Prato that sorts through discarded fibre scraps. The Cenciaiolo will accompany the visitor when sitting in the scraps. The meditation, in combination with the weight of the scraps, gives time to reflect on one’s self and on the work of the Cenciaiolo.
Material: Headphones and rags from Re-Verso.

Special thanks to:

Anna Balatti
Arco Wood
Ed Ng
Fabrizio Tesi – Comistra, Prato
Marco Nikolaj Rechenberg
Marco Wong
La Progressiva
Laura Fiesoli – Museo del Tessuto,
Prato
Re-Verso
Sandra Lori
Small Revolution
Gel Egger

Artisans:

Apelle Lab
Giovanni Ginestroni
GOR by Goran Micic
Gyulnara Magomedova
Marina Calamai
Occhi-Ali by Jacopo Cappelletti
Reinhard Plank
Shushan Gioielli
Tamara Trifan

Photography by Serena Gallorini