5.03 FasT4C – Fashion-Tech Design for Circularity 

FasT4C aims to develop, implement, and test a cradle-to-cradle design-driven approach in the fashion sector through Industry 4.0 (I4.0) systems and technologies.
Design choices and practices influence the entire fashion value and supply chain along their different phases from prototypes and production processes to sales and communication strategies, product use, and the end of their life cycle. Therefore, design is a strategic asset to guide the transition toward a sustainable transformation of the fashion system adopting circular products, processes, and supply chains.
I4.0 technologies (e.g., Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing and Digital Fabrication, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Collaborative Robotics, Radio Frequency Identification, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, etc.) could improve, enhance or generate new products/services/supply chains/systems that influence both production and consumption. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of the possible design-driven innovative strategies toward a circular fashion ecosystem through I4.0, the project will be articulated addressing at list two key sectors (e.g., textile/clothing and leather accessories) and considering the following four main research tracks:

Design and prototyping processes
POLIMI (DESIGN + DMEC) + UNIFI (DESIGN)
Digital/virtual fashion design strategies applied to sampling processes to understand digital software and hardware compatibility, limitations and opportunities to improve traditional and innovative pattern-making workflows, exploit reverse engineering from body scanning and apply generative digital tools towards circular solutions.

Materials/fabrics (MFs) non-standard fabrication processes
POLIMI (DESIGN + DMEC + CMIC) + UNIFI (DESIGN) + POLITO (DIATI)
Waste prevention in manufacturing processes through strategic material selection activity, modular design and design for disassembly using additive manufacturing and laser cutting. Zero-waste design approaches linked to composite garment weaving, three-dimensional textile shaping, functional thermoresponsive and mechanoresponsive materials, and bio-based materials. Monitoring of synthetic MFs release in the different steps of the process and elaboration of solution to decrease it.

Supply chain management
POLIMI (DIG) + POLIMI (DESIGN + DMEC + CMIC)
Models supporting the decisions of circular supply chain design and performance measurement; traceability systems, smart technologies and solutions to empower the management of (reverse) material and product flows pre and post consumption.

Textile and garment end-of-life management
POLITO (DIATI)
Analysis of the management of textile/leather waste: inventory of companies; categorization; KPIs definition; bottlenecks and strategies definition to improve sustainability and circularity of the sector. Comparison of the Italian framework with others. Industrial and urban textile waste collection system in relation to the European directive and the national legislation: estimate of the textile waste produced per person, strengths and weaknesses of the supply chain in the treatment processes of collected and processed textiles, correct management of synthetic fabric and microfibers release in the production and recycling phases.

During the first year, the project will be focused on mapping state of the art, understanding current practices, and identifying best practices about the previously identified processes, technologies, materials, products/systems, and tools. Current partners will collaborate with companies involved in early case study research to improve the collaboration during the second year, when selected concepts will be piloted, validated, and exploited.