Upcycling and Re-fashion

The Fashion Design and Upcycling course provides a practical introduction to sustainable fashion, guiding students through creative recycling, reuse, and garment transformation techniques based on the principles of circular fashion.

g-upcycling

g-upcycling

Course
Structure

Course Features

The Fashion Design and Upcycling course in Milan is a hands-on programme focused on upcycling, recycling, and reuse within sustainable fashion. It covers key topics such as green raw material sourcing, international certifications for advanced textiles, circular fashion, and zero-waste design—essential skills for the new generation of designers.

Throughout the course, students learn how to select garments from their own wardrobe or specialised stores and transform them through alterations, tailoring techniques, and creative intervention. Each piece is reworked to give it a new aesthetic, artistic, or design value.

By the end of the course, each student will independently create and present a new garment developed within the framework of circular and sustainable fashion.

Learning Objectives

Understand the principles of upcycling and sustainable fashion, including the environmental impact of the industry and the value of circular fashion
Develop practical skills in working with recycled and sustainable materials, transforming them into creative garments and accessories
Acquire sewing, patchwork, and customisation techniques for vintage and reclaimed clothing, combining creativity with environmental awareness
Produce a complete final project of sustainable clothing or accessories, from concept to finishing, presenting an original handmade piece created with upcycled materials

Study
Programme

Lesson 1: Introduction to Upcycling and Sustainable Fashion
What is upcycling? The origins of sustainable fashion and why it matters today. The environmental impact of the fashion industry and how upcycling can help reduce waste and pollution. The importance of circular fashion, from design to end-of-life. Practical exercise using “disposable” garments.
Lesson 2: Upcycling Techniques and Recycled, Sustainable Materials
How to select and creatively use recycled and sustainable materials. Practical exercise using “disposable” garments.
Lesson 3: External Visit
How to identify and evaluate vintage clothing, and how to repair and customise garments using sewing techniques, patchwork, and applied detailing. Upcycling spaces: external visit to selected stores and locations for garment sourcing and moodboard inspiration.
Lesson 4: Creation of Sustainable Garments and Accessories
Group presentation of project ideas, feedback session, and work planning.
Lesson 5,6,7: Project Development
Production phase and refinement of details.
Lesson 8: Final Presentation
Presentation of a fully handmade sustainable garment, outfit, or accessory created using upcycled and recovered materials.

Materials

Students should bring a basic sewing kit (including fabric scissors, a seam ripper, needles in different sizes, and threads), paper scissors, a craft knife, a scalpel, and a hot glue gun. Additional materials include certified sustainable or recycled fabrics, dead-stock textiles, garments sourced from existing wardrobes or end-of-stock collections, vintage and second-hand clothing, free decorative elements, and other objects to be transformed according to each student’s creative direction.

For the first lesson, only the basic sewing kit is required, along with a couple of discarded garments from the student’s own wardrobe (such as dresses, shirts, jackets, or trousers) to be used for practical exercises.

Fees

Tuition Fee:

€450 in a single payment or two instalments of €230 (one upon enrolment; the second within 30 days).

Available Discounts:

50% Discounts for students and alumni of Plena Education (Ferrari Fashion School, RUFA, SPD, Saint Louis College of Music, CIELS, CAST, MADE)
15% Discount for former students of Short Courses and Summer programmes at Plena Education
10% Discount for university students (with valid student ID)
Agreements are also available with secondary schools in Lombardy and international institutions, as well as package deals for multiple courses, groups, or family enrolments.

Info and enrolment: corsibrevi@plenaeducation.it

Faculty

News and Events

FAQ

the course is held at Ferrari Fashion School, Via Savona 97 and Via Pestalozzi 4 – Milano, in equipped laboratories designed for digital pattern making and CLO3D workflows.

The course is designed for fashion students, emerging designers, sustainability enthusiasts, and creatives interested in transforming vintage garments and reclaimed materials into original and sustainable outfits.

Participants learn the principles of upcycling and sustainable fashion, along with practical skills in sewing, patchwork, and garment customisation. They develop the ability to create unique clothing and accessories using recycled, vintage, and reclaimed materials, combining technical ability with creative design thinking.

The following concessions are available: 50% discount for students and alumni of Plena Education institutions (Ferrari Fashion School, RUFA, SPD, Saint Louis College of Music, CIELS, CAST, and MADE), 15% discount for former students of Plena Education short courses and Summer programmes, and 10% discount for university students with valid student ID.