Students and faculty presented work on textile reuse and biomaterials, leading community solidarity and innovation workshops in Silves.
The NOVAE - International Fashion, Art and Nature Festival, held in Silves, featured the participation of ISMAT's Bachelor's degrees in Design and in Fashion and Textile Design and Production through various initiatives linked to sustainability, material experimentation, resource reuse, and upcycling.
The Bachelor's degree in Fashion and Textile Design and Production presented an exhibition of student-developed pieces, selected for their alignment with the festival's main themes, such as nature, sustainability, material reuse, and upcycling.
The featured proposals showcased different ways to transform and give new life to textiles and garments, highlighting the creative potential of fashion design as a tool for reflecting on current production and consumption models.
Participation also included an upcycling workshop open to hands-on experimentation by the public, focusing on crafting padded mats for pets.
Through this practical and creative activity, participants explored various possibilities for reusing and repurposing garments and materials, demonstrating how extending product lifespans can spark creativity and innovation.
The crafted items will be donated to non-profit animal welfare organizations dedicated to rescuing and caring for abandoned dogs and cats. Meanwhile, the Bachelor's degree in Design presented an experience focused on biomaterial development.
Faculty and students led a public workshop introducing a recipe and production method for creating a biomaterial.
The activity enabled participants to follow and experiment with the creation process, introducing new possibilities for exploring alternative materials within design and sustainability contexts.
