Rethinking what already exists, turning fashion into a space for design experimentation and education around environmental responsibility. It is from this perspective that “OLDER Engineered by NABA” was born — a project developed by the Fashion Design Area of NABA in collaboration with OLDER Studio, an Italo-Danish company specialising in the design of sustainable uniforms created to adapt to different contexts, spaces and functions.
The challenge engaged students from the BA in Fashion Design in a pathway focused on the transformation and reinterpretation of work uniforms from OLDER’s permanent collection, through upcycling practices — that is, the process of transforming waste, unused or unwanted materials into new objects of higher quality — and customisation. An experience centred on sartorial experimentation, a strong focus on sustainability, and a conscious reflection on the relationship between garment, function and context of use, starting from a real brief developed in direct dialogue with OLDER Studio.
The students involved — Grace Cottini, Carlo Maria Giorgetti, Maria Pia Leone, Martino Losco, Federica Lovison, Giulia Maria Pavone, Michele Prisco and Carlo Tenti — were guided by Anna Paola Dos Santos Silva (Fashion Design Laboratory Manager at NABA) through the process of transforming 28 garments of the LETI Jumpsuit model. The project involved exploring materials, techniques, and details capable of giving each uniform a distinct identity while maintaining strong coherence with its functionality.
