C.L.A.S.S. comes back with its Smart Interview series with a very special one during Milan Design Week! C.L.A.S.S. Ceo Giusy Bettoni interviews Isabella Goldmann, Founder and Managing Partner of Goldmann & Partners srl SB, one of the most renowned design and research companies in Italy dedicated to Sustainable Bioclimatic Architecture. Isabella has always loved the idea of design and beauty combined with science. The sustainable scientific innovation conceived to support the improvement of our society, a healthy architecture and the environment protection, pushed Isabella to specialize in Bio Architecture, a discipline based on the balance between human beings, homes and the environment. Considering also Milan Design Week 2024’s theme, Materia Natura, that emphasizes sustainability as a guiding principle and fundamental value in creative and design process, the key-players of design have activated our interest as responsible innovation in fashion and design are nowadays more closely connected than ever. We’ve asked an ambassador and expert like Isabella Goldmann to tell us her experience.

The award, now in its third edition, was set up by Connecting Cultures and C.L.A.S.S. with the aim of creating new visual imagery and innovative communication models in sustainable fashion “Grow Your Couture” by Piero D'angelo, the winning project of the IMAGINING SUSTAINABLE FASHION (ISFA) competition was announced during a webinar broadcast on 18 May at 4pm attended by Giusy Bettoni CEO of C.L.A.S.S. Eco Hub, Anna Detheridge President of Connecting Cultures and ISFA ambassadors Valentina Suarez, co-founder and CEO of Universo Mola and Vishal Tolambia winner of the 2022 edition. Piero D'angelo's project was the best among the 110 proposals received after the international call for proposals launched on 27 October 2022.

Circular Economy has become a “hot” word in everyday conversation, but we know it is something representing a big, complex , challenging - but fundamental value if we want to talk about a new generation of textile system. The circular economy is a model of production and consumption created to extend the lifecycle and so the value of products . This means reducing waste to a minimum and It involves new business models such as sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.

This C.L.A.S.S. smart voice would like to shed light on 4 different and complementary case histories that are able to cover at different level the new generation of wardrobe with a circular approach: Adriana Galiascevic (Founder & CEO at Cocircular Lab), Tricia Carey Chief Commercial Officer – Renewcell, Andreas Röhrich, on behalf of Wolford AG where he was former Director of Product Development and Textile Sourcing, now consultant for sustainability and innovation in textile, Ettore Maria Carfagnini, Co-founder of REVIBE.
Moderator: Giusy Bettoni C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder

C.L.A.S.S. welcomes once more the UN call to action about the water on the occasion of 2023 World Water Day.The message is about accelerating change to solve the water and water health crisis. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. And as C.L.A.S. S. is close to fashion supply chains, we would like to talk about 3 subjects: 1- Which are the key information coming from territory? 2- Hidden water, the water that is not felt nor seen in final products, but is required for almost every step of the textile and fashion production processes. 3- We want to talk also about water efficient new eco high tech solutions to secure Water health. Speakers: Raffaella Giugni Responsible Institutional Relations, from Marevivo Onlus, Alberto Carpanese, Co-Founder Sea the Change, Luigi Caccia, co-founder of PureDenim, Michelle Lea Nilit Vice President Global Marketing. Moderator: Giusy Bettoni C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder

We believe in the power of Women, and we know there are so many examples in many fields, but C.L.A.S.S. just started this journey and invited inspiring women to share their unique paths. They are real gamechangers in their different fields and society’s culture.
From the interesting and tech journey of the Italian ambassador for THE WOMEN IN DENIM, Barbara Gnutti - founder of EFFE-BI PR Agency- to a real circular economy pioneer and innovator of the fashion panorama Carmen Gama - Director Circular Design Eileen Fisher-, passing through the artistic analysis work created by Stefania Ricci - Director Museo Salvatore Ferragamo - for the exhibition Donne in Equilibrio and closing with the example of a young entrepreneur fighting for human rights Martina Rogato, Founder and Sustainability Expert ESG Boutique.
Moderator: Giusy Bettoni C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder

A call broadcast to creatives from around the world for new models of communication for sustainable fashion: October 27, 2022 marks the launch of the third edition of the Imagining Sustainable Fashion Award. The Imagining Sustainable Fashion Award (ISFA) is the international competition born out of the collaboration between Connecting Cultures, the foundation that guides the Out of Fashion platform, and C.L.A.S.S., the international eco-hub that since 2007 has been advocating for a new generation of fashion in which the union of design, innovation, communication, and responsibility shapes a conscious and competitive business, capable of playing both an economic and social role. Participants are invited to submit their projects to info@connectingcultures.info by midnight on January 25, 2023 (full details at www.connectingcultures.it). The winner will be announced in March 2023 and will receive a cash prize of €3,000.00.

Everything old can be “new and valuable again” according to the vision of Circular Economy and to the experiences of our today Smart Voice protagonists! Listen to Giusy Bettoni, C.L.A.S.S. CEO and Founder, interviewing Atelier Emé with Mending for Good, YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP and Maeba International on their efforts, and concrete case histories, to shift from a linear to a circular economy, where recycling technology, repurposing and upcycling design strategies are protagonists of new circular business models.
Moderator: Giusy Bettoni C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder

Recycling is not an easy matter. When addressing this topic, there are at least 7 pillars to be considered. Recycled materials come from the transformation of secondary raw materials, which may be either pre- or post-consumer or post-industrial. The transformation may take place through a mechanical process without using chemical substances or additives or by means of a chemical process. And this is just the beginning! Through this session, we will discover best practice examples of recycling solutions addressed to circularity. Recover™, Manteco, EDMOS and Rifò.
Moderator: Giusy Bettoni C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder

According to Andy Warhol, nature has always been the best art. If that is true, then our guests for this brand-new C.L.A.S.S Smart Voice are the new eco high-tech vanguards. Watch SUPREME GREEN COTTON® by Varvaressos, Albini Group, SQIM (Mogu – Ephea) and PANGAIA Science talking to our CEO and founder Giusy Bettoni on how they tap advanced technologies and processes to enhance the value and performances of natural resources.
Moderator: Giusy Bettoni C.L.A.S.S. CEO & founder

Fashion may seem all glitz and glamour, but sometimes it’s just smoke and mirrors. In order to reach a sustainable apparel system, it is time to focus on the bigger picture, made of both manufacturing companies and creative brands working together to generate value-driven pieces with TRANSPARENT SUPPLY CHAINS.

According to the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development, the fashion and textile industry represents one of the major polluters of water in the world, with an estimated 93 billion cubic metres of water used per year. Nonetheless, some virtuous and innovative companies and organisms are trying to change it...

Long or short? Black or white? Minimalism or maximalism?
And most importantly what’s relevant for the contemporary consumer, the expectations of new generation of consumer. In our first Smart Voice of the year, C.L.A.S.S. CEO and founder Giusy Bettoni talks to David Shah, Publisher and Editor of VIEW, Orietta Pelizzari, GLOBAL FASHION ADVISOR...

SMART VOICES is the virtual programme of talks sharing ideas, knowledge, stories and innovations able to ‘shake up’ the fashion system with a responsible attitude.
C.L.A.S.S., the eco-platform striving to bring forward new sustainable values in the fashion and textile business...

On October 25th at 4.00pm the international ecohub C.L.A.S.S. has organized its new Smart Voice, “Sustainable Thinkers” dedicated to the online launch of the Sustainable Thinking exhibition on the Milano Green Forum platform.

C.L.A.S.S. SMART VOICES, a cycle of digital talks , has in fact given voice to many but selected companies, brands, personalities, creatives and game changers who have distinguished themselves for responsible innovation, ethics and all those different expressions that encompass sustainability; they did always in conversation with Giusy Bettoni, CEO of C.L.A.S.S. and internationally recognized expert in sustainability.

The response to climate change is change.

It’s almost time for Imagining Sustainable Fashion award 2021! The award was established in October 2020 by Connecting Cultures and C.L.A.S.S. with the aim of creating new visual imagery and innovative communication models in sustainable fashion. Stylists, photographers, designers, illustrators, artists and other creatives, invited to rethink how to communicate the new generation of values of an ethical and sustainable fashion system, joined the open and international call.

Una conversazione sulla contemporaneità e responsabilità della fibra Bemberg ™ attraverso le molteplici interpretazioni sul significato di moda di quattro realtà: Zegna, Gilberto Calzolari, Zerobarracento e Carnet by Ratti.

Language: ITALIAN

The title itself announces a 20-year history of commitment and sustainability, which will be told by an exceptional guest, Veronica Potocko, Fabric and Trims designer of Stella McCartney since 2011, through the now proven successful formula created by the C.L.A.S.S. platform last year.

The talk explored the innovations of Stella McCartney brand over the years, the sustainable philosophy behind it, the precious collaborations, the new challenges and goals of the future.

A unique fabric collection where heritage weaving culture meets contemporary design creating a new generation of values

From the masterly talented hands of the artisans from Bolivia and Peru in synergy with Progettomondo, a unique collection of hand-woven fashion comes to life. This is the “Born in The Andes” capsule collection ready to bring new generation values and preciousness to smart consumers.

The fabric collection is available at C.L.A.S.S. ecohub.

WHAT DOES CIRCULAR ECONOMY MEAN? “an economic system that reduces waste keeping products and materials at maximum values during their all life following Cradle to Cradle cycles”Moderated by Giusy Bettoni, CEO & Founder of C.L.A.S.S., the conversation involved: Hiroaki Shinohe, Chief Marketing Officer AKSE, ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei Carolina Sister Cohn, Global Segment Market Manager, Textiles Eastman Naia™ Francesca Fincati, Sales Manager Imbotex Barbara Guarducci, co-founder Mending for Good

The name of the winner of the IMAGINING SUSTAINABLE FASHION competition was announced during a webinar on March 30th at 4pm led by Giusy Bettoni, CEO of C.L.A.S.S. Eco Hub; Anna Detheridge, President of Connecting Cultures; Lucy Orta, Chair, Art & the Environment, University of the Arts London; and Dio Kurazawa, Founding Partner of The Bear Scouts.

Together with Patrick Silva Szatkowski, Marketing Department at Santoni Spa, Asi Efros, Editor at Lingerie Briefs Magazine / Material Briefs Column, Carlos Soares, Certifications and Sustainability Processes Responsible at Impetus and Eva de Laat and Carola Leegwater, Co-Founders at Studio Eva x Carola , our CEO & Founder Giusy Bettoni discussed the new frontiers of seamless technology and its applications in fashion.

Cosa significa essere un “game changer” nella moda green?Quali sono i falsi miti dell’eco-fashion e quali le linee guida per innovare salvaguardando il pianeta? E come raccontare quello che c’è dietro a una collezione di moda sostenibile?

Ne hanno discusso Giusy Bettoni, CEO e fondatrice di C.L.A.S.S. con lo stilista Gilberto Calzolari, e Federico Poletti Direttore Marketing e Comunicazione di WHITE SHOW.

Sustainable fashion wasn’t built in a day. C.L.A.S.S. dialogued with Rossella Ravagli on master-planning the roadmap to responsibility in fashion. Giusy Bettoni, CEO and Founder of C.L.A.S.S. ecohub, talked with Rossella Ravagli, former Head of Corporate Responsibility at Gucci, about the tasks and challenges of building up a sustainable strategy in fashion.

#SmartVoices​ is C.L.A.S.S.’ virtual programme of open talks with global leaders and innovators sharing ideas, knowledge, stories and innovations able to ‘shake up’ the fashion system with a responsible attitude.

“Truly sustainable fashion must be four-dimensional. It must integrate design and innovation with sustainability, but also be able to share such value to the public at large.” Says Giusy Bettoni, CEO and founder of C.L.A.S.S. ecohub, the platform empowering responsible fashion and textile business. “For the Fashion’s 4th dimension virtual talk we invited visionary setting new rules and raising the bar in both responsibility and communication.”

An insightful session about how the hosiery market chooses responsible innovation as a competitive advantage aligned with design.

The session was moderated by Giusy Bettoni, with the contribution of 4 special guest that will be able to paint a complete picture about this topic:

•  Anne Marie Commandeur, Stijlinstituut Amsterdam Owner and director,
• Alessandra Mengoli, Partner at SITA Ricerca
• Michelle Cain Brand & Marketing Manager SARAH BORGHI,
• Andreas Röhrich WOLFORD

“Nulla si crea, nulla si distrugge, tutto si trasforma” ha detto Antoine De Lavoisier, il padre della Chimica Moderna. Dopo due secoli, sulla scia delle emergenze di pandemia e cambiamento climatico, questa famosa citazione è più che mai vera. Abbiamo però uno strumento importante: la circolarità. Tale modello virtuoso applica le leggi della fisica all’etica, all’economia e al design. Nel design come nel fashion business più attori stanno giocando un ruolo fondamentale nel promuovere modelli circolari.”

Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is transformed” said Antoine De Lavoisier, the father of Modern Chemistry. After two centuries, in the wake of the the pandemic and climate change emergencies, this famous quote is true more than ever. We do have an important tool though: circularity. Such virtuous model applies the laws of physics to ethics, economics and design.

In the fashion business multiple actors are playing a fundamental role in boosting circular models. Join our virtual talk LET’S GET THE VIRTUOUS CIRCLE ROLLING giving voice to platforms, designers, brands and stock specialists, each one sharing his unique perspective and contribution to circular economy!

Fabio Sottocornola from Corriere della Sera talks with Giusy Bettoni, founder of C.L.A.S.S., Silvia Valeria Rinaldi, Chief Magic Officier Sense – Immaterial Reality and Guido Gioioso, general manager and co-founder of WeArt S.r.l..

Giusy Bettoni talks with Marina Savarese co-founder of #SFashionNet sustainable platform with Guya Manzoni – @sfashion_net supports the new generation of independent designers and brands. #StayTuned .

C.L.A.S.S. Eco Hub material manager Luca Olivini dialogued with the designer and researcher Zuzana Kralova, sharing the path of C.L.A.S.S. with focus on how to support small businesses/designers.

Giusy Bettoni dialogued with Evie Evangelou, founder and president of Fashion 4 Development, and with Jeanine Ballone, head of F4D Solutions. Fashion 4 Development is the United Nations-related entity offering a full supply chain of solutions to those who want to create positive and meaningful change. On the occasion F4D and C.L.A.S.. shared a new initiative linked to production systems which will be fully unveiled in NYC on September 23.

Giusy Bettoni dialogued with artist and designer Valentino Vettori about digital sustainability. Vettori has inaugurated the pop-up augmented Arcadia Earth Museum in New York (@arcadiaearth).

Giusy Bettoni talked with Stefania Ricci, director of the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence about blending art, fashion and technology to build up sustainable culture.

Luca Olivini interviewed the athlete Pietro Sarai of the Scott Racing Team who has teamed up with important textile companies and yarns manufacturers to develop the first sustainable hyper-performing bikers’ uniforms.

SMART VOICES 4/2020

EARTHDAY – Wednesday 22, h. 5.00 pm

Luca Olivini presented some of the smartest yarns, fabrics and fashion ingredients on the market on the Instagram profile of the sustainable platform VIC – Very Important Choice: @veryimportantchoice

EARTHDAY – Wednesday 22, h. 4.00 pm C.L.A.S.S. Material Manager Luca Olivini unveiled FUTURE DEVICES, a brand-new family of digital tools that can empower the communication of sustainable messages. Some example? Immaterial Reality – developed by global digital agency Sense Immaterial Reality – allows to create responsive digital fabrics with the highest accuracy in weight drapery. C.L.A.S.S. is also working with WeArt, a company exploring virtual tactility.

Dio Kurazawa, founding partner of The Bear Scout global platform and production expert on the frontline of the war against Climate Change, dialogued with Giusy Bettoni starting from an alarming question: Can we allow the COVID-19 emergency to de-prioritize the Climate Change emergency?

Giusy Bettoni, C.L.A.S.S. CEO and founder and journalist Diana de Marsanich with Simona Roveda, Editorial Director and Director of Institutional Communication LifeGate, and Marina Spadafora, Italian Country Coordinator of Fashion Revolution and currently collaborating with Luxury Fashion Brands to implement responsible strategies in their companies, shared their experience of a call-to-action project which has brought together textile companies to manufacture PPE garments for the medical staff working in a hospital in city of Monza north of Milan.