How Ferragamo first went green – from the Roaring Twenties onwards
Florence museum hosts ‘Sustainable Thinking’ exhibition of designs made from recycled materials from fishnet boots to a kombucha suit
Sustainability is a hot topic in all industries, including high fashion. For 11 months, from April 12 to March 8, 2020, the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence is hosting the “Sustainable Thinking” exhibition, inviting audiences to reflect on this vital issue.
High and sustainable fashion have only recently become best friends – but, in fact, the museum shows how Salvatore Ferragamo actually researched sustainable materials from the 1920s onwards, including using unorthodox materials such as hemp, cellophane and fishskin.
Other than sustainable shoes created by Ferragamo between the 1920s and the 1950s, now preserved in the fashion house’s archival records, the exhibition showcases the work of today’s artists and international fashion designers who are committed to green design.
Boots made from recycled fishnets, an organic wool kimono, a long dress made from leather scraps, and a man’s suit tailored with kombucha are just a few of the inspiring pieces featured.
Beyond using environmentally-friendly materials, the exhibition touches on the crucial issue of a sustainable product cycle, from start to finish, which includes the use of ancient handcrafting traditions, as well as new smart technologies.
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