journal
Matter born from waste
At the heart of 70Materia lies the idea of focusing not on a finished product, but on an evolving process. This insight resonates daily in the company’s workshops, where founder Giacomo Antonello, creative director Enricomaria Todaro, and the internal team dedicate time and energy to ongoing experimentation with 70Materia®.
The latest experiment at 70Materia is a mix made with waste from the textile industry. This is a Progetto-type surface — the mix that represents the fullest expression of 70Materia®'s creative potential, as it can be customised by adding different types of materials, such as glass, marble, or reclaimed aggregates from renovation works.
In this case, Giacomo Antonello and Enricomaria Todaro integrated a multitude of salvaged buttons into the Origine base, which were carefully dosed and distributed across the surface of the raw material so as to stand out after sanding. The result is a granular surface from which small circular elements emerge, enriching the aesthetics of the surface and, at the same time, opening a dialogue with the viewer through a universally recognisable form. Further tests have been conducted using needles and zips.
70M Progetto Bottoni, Levigato
The fashion industry urgently needs new, more efficient and sustainable production models that anticipate and involve the entire product life cycle. For this reason, the transformation of textile waste into a new resource takes on even greater value and confirms 70Materia’s commitment to making its processes increasingly sustainable, from sourcing local raw materials to the possibility of
renewing surfaces, and even, as in this case, experimenting with reclaimed aggregates.
The samples resulting from the project demonstrate that any material, even waste, can be incorporated into a 70Materia® mix, increasing its value from a tactile, aesthetic, or conceptual perspective. Anything can become 70Materia®: a vision that foreshadows new experiments and collaborations, with fashion brands and beyond, and the creation over time of an ever-growing catalogue of surfaces and applications, each with its own singular character.
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Illustrations: Michele Bruttomesso
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