A Twist is a workshop that transforms textile waste into new objects: a virtuous example of upcycling that works with schools and businesses.
The fashion and textile sector has become one of the symbols of the challenges linked to environmental sustainability. In Italy, it is estimated that each citizen produces on average more than 20 kilograms of textile waste per year, of which only a portion is separately collected for reuse or recycling. Rising consumption and the short lifespan of garments have helped accelerate a linear model based on purchase, use and disposal, with significant consequences in terms of resource consumption, CO₂ emissions and waste generation.
Reversing this trend requires more than improving end-of-life product management: it is necessary to rethink the very value of materials, promoting circular economy models that prioritise reuse, repair and upcycling. Innovative organisations capable of transforming textile waste into new opportunities for value are therefore playing an increasingly important role, engaging citizens, schools, businesses and local communities in active participation pathways. Among these is A Twist, a startup that has turned textile upcycling into a tool for environmental education, creativity and co-design.
Among the millions of tonnes of textile waste produced every year, a significant portion could be given a second life. Unlike traditional recycling, upcycling does not simply recover raw materials, but increases their value through design. A Twist works precisely in this direction, transforming unused fabrics, discarded garments and production offcuts into new objects and accessories. The process is not only about the final product, but above all about the shared journey that leads to its creation, involving citizens, students, designers and craftspeople in an experience of active learning and environmental responsibility.
One of A Twist's defining features is its educational approach. The workshops and experiential programmes allow participants to gain a concrete understanding of the value of resources, the environmental cost of textile production and the potential offered by the circular economy. For schools, this means turning sustainability topics into hands-on activities that foster creativity and awareness. For associations and communities, it represents an opportunity to strengthen a sense of belonging and build shared projects that generate social as well as environmental value. Learning thus takes place through manual skills, design and experimentation, demonstrating how every material can become the starting point for a new story.
The business world also finds in A Twist a partner capable of translating ESG objectives (environmental, social and governance) and corporate social responsibility strategies into concrete initiatives. The co-design and upcycling programmes engage employees and stakeholders in transforming unused materials into objects with strong symbolic value. The result is not only a reduction in waste, but also the building of a corporate culture oriented towards sustainability. Upcycling thus becomes a tool for internal engagement and an authentic way of communicating an organisation's environmental commitment through tangible actions.
The model developed by A Twist valorises artisanal skills and design as fundamental elements of the ecological transition. Every project is born from collaboration between creatives and citizens, giving rise to a participatory supply chain that generates a positive impact on local communities. In this way, sustainability is experienced as a collective process to which every individual can actively contribute, rediscovering the value of reuse and craftsmanship. And in the pipeline for the coming months are projects in genuine textile relational art.
