T-rex Leather: Reality or Science Fiction?
A project launched in 2025 has given life to Elemental X™, a material dubbed “T-rex leather” because it is inspired by reconstructed DNA fragments of a Tyrannosaurus rex. This unusual material, designed to be a more sustainable alternative to animal leather, was developed by Lab-Grown Leather Ltd, in collaboration with the creative agency VML and The Organoid Company. What It Is and How It’s Made At the core of this material lies fossil collagen, a protein that—though only in traces—has survived millions of years inside dinosaur bones. Scientists don’t have complete dinosaur DNA, but they use these fragments as a blueprint to design and reconstruct protein sequences reminiscent of the…
Luxurywashing: Does luxury rhyme with ethics?
If we were to ask those who buy designer clothes worth thousands of euros whether they believe these products are more sustainable, many would likely say yes. The high price is often interpreted as a guarantee of quality, traceability, and respect for labor rights. However, the recent scandal involving Loro Piana—a historic Italian cashmere brand under investigation for labor exploitation—undermines this belief. And it’s not an isolated case. Max Mara, Dior, Armani, Valentino are among other luxury brands recently implicated in cases of poor labor conditions. It points to a deeper issue. In this article-podcast, we explore the phenomenon of luxurywashing—the construction of a “green and ethical” image that masks…
“You’re Obese”: The Dark Tale of the Workers Behind the Glitter
When fashion forgets who sews it In the 1960s and 1970s, female textile workers in Reggio Emilia went on strike in major factories like Confit, Bloch, Maska, Max Mara, and not just for wages. They demanded rights over their bodies, their health, their time. They worked in environments saturated with fibers, standing for hours, with night shifts that left no room for motherhood, life, dignity. Those women, often invisible in the union narratives of the time, brought a new urgency to the heart of the factories: the struggle was not just economic. It was existential. In cases like Max Mara, the workers demanded recognition of the trade unions and national…
Why Do We Buy Fast Fashion? The Key to Changing Purchasing Behaviors
A recent Spanish study analyzes how education and social norms influence fast fashion purchasing choices. Discover what could be the key to changing consumer behavior. Fast fashion consumption thrives largely as a function of our purchasing behavior, driven by the desire to own more and more clothes and supported by the continuous decrease in prices. Through what we buy, we express ourselves and strengthen our identity towards ourselves and towards others. In cultures where our purchases convey self-realization and identity expression, clothes represent a visual language that communicates our belonging to certain social groups, cultures or communities. We are driven to change our identity through new clothes and we are…
Silk waste between innovation and sustainability: interview with Cosetex
Silk is synonymous with luxury and glamour, but did you know that it can also be an innovative and environmentally friendly material? In the new episode of our podcast, we interviewed Silvio Mandelli, CEO of Cosetex, a company with over 120 years of experience in the recovery of silk waste. Cosetex has revolutionized the industry by transforming what was once considered waste into new opportunities: natural padding, high-quality yarns and collaborations with the denim world. Silvio tells us about the environmental benefits of silk, such as its ability to capture CO2 and the fact that it does not produce plastic microfibers. But what does “silk waste” really mean? How did…
Fashion and sustainability regulations: risks, sanctions and opportunities
It is not enough to create products in a greener and more ethical way. There are other steps needed in fashion and textiles to gain people’s trust, show commitment to sustainability and avoid sanctions and fines. In view of the new regulations, we discuss this with lawyers Camilla Gentile and Isabella Carantani of the law firm Close to Ius, with whom we are organizing a dedicated workshop: Sostenibilità e Normative Tessili. Isabella supports companies in adopting targeted legal solutions for the ethical and transparent management of business practices, specializing in industrial property, environmental and social sustainability and transparent communication. Camilla focuses on legal advice in the area of sustainability and…
Cultural Appropriation in Fashion: A Guide to an Ethical and Sustainable Fashion System
Fashion often draws inspiration from different cultures, but when it happens without recognition or financial compensation, it risks slipping into cultural appropriation. It is essential to distinguish between appreciation and appropriation: while the former implies respect and recognition, the latter involves the use of cultural elements without consent, mainly for profit. In essence, cultural appropriation refers to the act of borrowing, imitating or adopting elements of one culture by members of another culture, often without understanding, attributing or respecting the meaning and cultural context of those elements (Chumo 2023). The use of indigenous symbols is growing, but without due respect. Pham and Nguyen (2018) analyzed the phenomenon in fashion magazines…
India and fashion: what point is sustainability at?
When we think of India, we imagine traditions, colors and craftsmanship, but do we connect it with sustainability? What if this is where one of the keys to a greener future in fashion lies? In this episode, we discover the lesser-known side of a country that might surprise us about India’s contributions to the spread of more sustainable fashion. We talk to Sulakshana Chemudupati, our collaborator at Dress ECOde as a sustainable fashion consultant. She has worked for 15 years in the fashion retail industry as a design professional with successful mainstream brands in India and the UAE. We completed an MBA in sustainability management together, that’s where we met.…
At the Hemp Museum to discover the history, traditions, techniques and curiosities of an extraordinary fibre
“I want to dress all in hemp,” said Totò. Those were the times when advertising urged people not to let a precious fiber, Italy’s “green gold,” disappear. This is how Glenda Giampaoli, Director of the Hemp Museum in the municipality of Sant’Anatolia di Narco (Perugia), in Valnerina, takes us to explore the fascinating world of hemp. With her, in this episode of the podcast we learn many curiosities about a plant that has historically been fundamental to the textile industry and discover why Italy, once a world leader in the production of this autarchic fiber, saw a decline at a certain point. You will be surprised by Glenda’s stories about…
The Gentle Revolution of Slow Fiber
In this episode we meet Dario Casalini, founder of Slow Fiber, the project created in collaboration between Slow Food Italy and some virtuous Italian textile companies. Dario tells us about the need for a “gentle revolution” to counter the fast fashion model, in a context in which the economy shifts wealth from many to few without actually creating well-being for humanity. Slow Fiber wants to positively change the paradigm of production, consumption and, therefore, the perception of textiles. Today, in fact, we find ourselves immersed in a consumerist and fast-fashion lifestyle, as Dario states. Slow Fiber uses a series of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to evaluate the companies that join…
