RUFA presents a selection of projects created by students of the Sustainable Fashion Design course – the first three-year programme in Italy to offer a transdisciplinary approach based on integral ecology throughout the entire fashion system.

On the occasion of ROME FASHION PATH, RUFA presents a selection of projects created by students of the Sustainable Fashion Design course – the first three-year programme in Italy to offer a transdisciplinary approach based on integral ecology throughout the entire fashion system.

The course, coordinated by Guenda Cermel, prepares designers capable of combining creativity, technical expertise, and environmental awareness. Students learn to design fashion in an ethical and innovative way, critically reflecting on the cultural and industrial models of the sector, with a focus on sustainability, inclusion, and circularity.

The garments on display originate from three distinctive projects.

New Japanese Icons
A personal and contemporary reinterpretation of Japanese aesthetics, renowned for its refined minimalism and attention to detail. Students created original garments inspired by the concept of Reduce – Reuse – Recycle, reusing existing materials and transforming them into new textile narratives.

Back to Black
A collective reflection on the little black dress, an iconic symbol of fashion, here deconstructed and reimagined through a genderless lens, using unconventional materials. The project challenges stereotypes and conventions, giving the garment a renewed expressive significance.

Planetary Garden
These garments were created for the “Planetary Garden” Fashion Performance, inspired by the thought of Gilles Clément, held at RUFA in June 2024. The collection explores three themes – Cement, Moss and Bubble – to narrate the relationship between humanity and the environment, using certified materials, deadstock and end-of-roll fabrics, also supplied with the support of textile companies MANTECO and Berto. A selection of these garments was showcased at the Sustainable Fashion Week in Vilnius, a prestigious international event dedicated to ethical fashion. Students oversaw every phase of the creative process: from design and fabric selection to garment construction, demonstrating skill, commitment, and vision.

Each creation is the result of a complete process that weaves together critical thinking, environmental responsibility, and aesthetic experimentation – helping to redefine the language of contemporary fashion.