April 27–29, 2026, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Fashion & Textile Living Lab, Building B4, Bovisa Durando Campus, Milan
For the second edition of the MADEBACK festival, which will take place in October 2026, the research team of the Fashion & Textile Living Lab – Too Cool To Go Wasted at the Department of Design is promoting a clothing collection initiative aimed at raising awareness and engaging citizens, students, and the wider Politecnico community around the themes of sustainable and circular fashion.
The initiative aims to give a second life to discarded garments by activating processes of care and transformation that enhance their value and turn them into a resource for the future. The collected items will be used in upcycling workshops and educational activities focused on repair, promoting a culture of sustainability within the fashion world.
Preferred items:
- Heavy knitwear, even with small holes; please avoid items that have shrunk during washing;
- Natural fibers tops, with at least 60% total natural fiber composition;
- Large bottoms; stains or small holes are acceptable and not an issue;
- Structured blazers in any material, excluding polyurethane, preferably with an oversized fit.
DON'T BRING: underwear, lingerie, loungewear, sportswear, swimwear, or unwashed garments.
The collection will take place from April 27 to 29, with the space open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Afterward, the collection point will be active every Tuesday in May, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The Fashion & Textile Living Lab aims to serve as a permanent space for research, education, and activation dedicated to circularity in fashion, and it will be at the center of the MADEBACK festival’s activities. The event brings together emerging brands, artisanal realities, and innovative projects, offering exhibitions, workshops, talks, and participatory activities within the campus.
For updates, please refer to MADEBACK’s Instagram page.