At the 2021 Architecture Biennale in Venice, running until 21 November at the Giardini and the Arsenale, there is also a qualified piece of the textile district of Prato. These are two companies, the fabric manufacturer Manteco and the yarn manufacturer Lanificio dell’Olivo, who have contributed to the realization of artistic projects focused on the values of sustainability and innovation, particularly important in the world of fashion.
How a recycled fabric is born
Manteco, which belongs to the Mantellassi family and specializes in the recycling of textile fibers, has decorated the ceiling of the Italian pavilion, in the section dedicated to Prato, with its flagship product, the high quality MWool recycled wool fabric, now used by major international luxury brands. The company exhibited the various stages of creation of this fabric in Venice, reproducing the colors of the Italian flag to represent the country in which it was born.
Loading…
It starts with tons of pre and post-consumer sweaters which, after passing chemical and physical tests, are divided by color and composition, and then mechanically recycled without chemicals, so as to obtain the new wool fiber. MWool. The fiber is made durable through a patented process, the Durability Treatment.
Innovative business model
The new colors are created without using dyes and chemicals, just by mixing the different fibers in percentage through the Recype process. Fabrics made with MWool – the company guarantees – impact -75% on CO2 emissions, -83% on water consumption and -58% on energy use. “The contamination of ideas and innovation between fashion and architecture are increasingly important – says Matteo Mantellassi, CEO of Manteco – and it is a pride for us to be present with MWool in places that represent our own history, beauty and culture. like Manteco, bringing an innovative and sustainable business model ».
Sustainable and certified cotton
The company Lanificio dell’Olivo, which belongs to Ethica Global Investments (Egi), has instead supplied the yarn to make the bark of the tree which is the heart of Mat.Res, an impressive installation present at the international exhibition. “The bark of the tree, a metaphor for resilient life and its many essences, is made with our Biotape yarn, an organic, soft, versatile, easy to work, sustainable and certified cotton – explains Fabio Campana, CEO of Lanificio dell ‘ Olive tree -. We enthusiastically joined the project of the designers Giovanni Conti, Martina Motta and Patrizio Terzi of the Design department of the Politecnico di Milano – he adds – above all because we are in tune with the demands and values that the project communicates ».