Forget Me (Not)
Artisanal Fashion, Material Research and Sustainable Design Practices
Forget Me (Not) was an intensive course dedicated to artisanal fashion and experimental design, developed as the concluding module of a broader educational pathway involving a group of international female students, previously engaged in a module at Polimoda in Florence, together with the first-year students of the Fashion Design programme at MADE Program.
The project explored the connections between artisanal practices, sustainability, material research, and territory, using the Sicilian context as a starting point to reflect on the relationship between fashion, communities, and local production systems.
A central element of the course was the exploration of the cotton supply chain through the case study of SOFINE, a Sicilian brand creating unique collections using 100% Made in Italy cotton fabrics. SOFINE’s production process is fully traceable, from seed to finished product, integrating ethical agriculture, renewable energy, and responsible production practices. The visit to SOFINE’s cotton fields and production spaces allowed students to directly engage with the different stages of the textile supply chain, understanding how material research, innovation, and social responsibility can coexist within the fashion system.
The design process focused on the shirt as an object of study and reinterpretation: a garment with a strong historical, social, and symbolic value, analysed through its construction, function, and narrative potential. Through a process of research and experimentation, students transformed the shirt into a space of memory, identity, and transformation, connecting tradition, personal narratives, and new design possibilities.
A key moment of the course was the guest lecture dedicated to the textile supply chain and female entrepreneurship in the fashion sector, bringing together three professionals with complementary experiences. The session explored the journey of the material “from seed to fabric” through the contribution of Alia Iventuri Quattrini, Managing Director of SOFINE, who investigated the relationship between agriculture, textile production, and sustainability; the transition “from fabric to garment”, addressing the shirt as a cultural, symbolic, and design object through the contribution of fashion designer and lecturer Giorgia Salvo; and finally the journey “from garment back to yarn” through the concept of upcycling, with Anna Cicero, knitting designer at Superficie Liminale, who presented practices of material reuse and their transformation into new artistic applications.
The session, moderated by Prof. Andrea Piccione, concluded with an open discussion between the professionals and students, creating a space for direct exchange on contemporary practices in sustainable fashion.
Through field visits, conversations with professionals from the sector, and hands-on activities, Forget Me (Not) offered students a space for research and experimentation, encouraging them to understand fashion as a complex practice capable of connecting materials, stories, communities, and new visions for the future.
The course concluded with the presentation and photoshoot of the garments created by the students, showcasing not only the final outcomes but also the creative and design processes developed throughout the experience.
