“Who better than Anna Piaggi to represent life choices that seem so “out of fashion” while still remaining a beacon in the history of Italian fashion? An independent personality with a lifestyle which embodied neither wealth nor poverty, let alone one brand rather than another, with the courage to be unpredictable and to change, albeit with respect for our history, our legacy, and with an ethical and artistic awareness. A state of being which nowadays is definitely Out of Fashion”
Out of Fashion
Out of Fashion is the first course in Italy to examine the issues of sustainable, ethical, and aware fashion. Created in 2014 by Connecting Cultures with the ambitious goal of promoting a new fashion culture with original and independent thought, the course is focused on generating and sharing interdisciplinary knowledge among young industry professionals and a multi-faceted team of international experts in the fields of fashion, art, ethics, manufacturing, communications, and economics.
Our Story
Out of Fashion was created as part of Dencity, a three-year calendar of cultural events and programming which from 2014 to 2016 engaged the area in the Tortona District in Milan, with support from Fondazione Cariplo. Connecting Cultures was entrusted with the Solari-Savona-Tortona district, which is characterized by a high concentration of fashion, design, and architecture studios, showrooms and ateliers. For Dencity, Connecting Cultures pinpointed its efforts on researching sustainability, a complex and multi-faceted issue of fundamental importance in contemporary culture. Utilizing a cross-disciplinary method for research, which distinguishes us in the field, led to the creation of the first course entirely focused on sustainable fashion and which subsequently was expanded to include ethical, social, and aware fashion. In 2017 and 2018 this project was awarded support from Fondazione Cariplo via the “Sustainable Culture” grant.
The Value of Partnerships: CNA Milano and Fondazione Gianfranco Ferré
In 2014, despite it still being ground breaking work, the project was immediately championed by Fondazione Gianfranco Ferré, which not only permitted us to use their headquarters in Via Tortona for our masterclass but also provided us with valuable advice from Rita Airaghi, Director of the Foundation. CNA Milano’s contribution was no less important, as it oversaw the program in terms of the start-up incubator and financed scholarships for the course.
The Exhibition: Fashion as Social Energy
In conjunction with Expo2015 and within the framework of Expo in Città, Connecting Cultures together with Out of Fashion organized the exhibition,
Fashion as Social Energy dedicated to the relationship between Art and Fashion. The exhibition, curated by Anna Detheridge and Gabi Scardi, was on display from May 29 to August 30, 2015 at Palazzo Morando | Costume Moda Immagine. The exhibition presented the work of avant-garde artists, ambassadors for a new horizon: Lucy Orta, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Maria Papadimitriou, Claudia Losi, Marzia Migliora and Luigi Coppola, Rä di Martino, Wurmkos, Kateřina Šedá, Mella Jaarsma, Kimsooja, Otto Von Busch, Andrea Zittel, Nasan Tur. The exhibition was organized in cooperation with the City of Milano, with the support of Regione Lombardia and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and in partnership with Ermenegildo Zegna. The exhibition catalogue is titled Fashion as Social Energy.
The Book: Fashion Change
The experience of Out of Fashion led in 2017 to the creation of Fashion Change, a treatise which contains the reflections of a community of entrepreneurs, scholars, technical experts, intellectuals, and fashion designers on our project. Seven chapters dedicated to the main issues surrounding the culture of awareness in fashion: materials and their environmental impact, technological innovation in the textiles industry, supply chain traceability and respect for workers’ rights, superior craftsmanship and a return to tradition, the relationship between art and fashion.
On the road
To promote sustainability in fashion, Out of Fashion participates in conferences, events, and other meetings as speakers and moderators of round table discussions. It is a commitment which we undertake with pleasure and with the conviction that communication plays a key role in building awareness, a fundamental value in the culture of sustainable fashion.
