@gaialapasini

Fashion Design, Year 3

21 years old

Vittorio Veneto (Treviso), Italy

Schools have been among the first institutions to adapt to the new measures of quarantine. How did your school react to the state of emergency? In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of online classes?

Most of the hours spent in the university were usually dedicated to laboratories and at first it was not easy to understand how it was possible to do the same activities at home. The main problem: the materials. With all the shops closed, being able to find the fabrics and things necessary to develop your own project was a challenge. Restrictions sometimes turn out to be challenging and finding alternative solutions is a great way to develop your creativity. I dyed fabrics with acrylic paints, took old clothes apart, used curtains and sheets, painted with the brushes that I usually used for make-up. I realized I could do more than I ever imagined.

The Fashion and Design Industries have been aggressively afflicted by the state of quarantine and social distancing. As a consumer, but also as a future insider of those systems, what do you think the worst consequences of this crisis will be?

I think the corona virus accelerated the inevitable consequences that would sooner or later hit the fashion system. I don't believe in radical changes, but I believe that the frenetic rhythms of contemporary fashion are no longer necessary. Never before have we been forced to stop, or at least slow down, in a moment like this, we realized that we have filled our lives and our closets with useless things that we don't really need. This consumer awareness I hope will give the final push towards a more sustainable and conscious fashion.

Your work is built on creativity. While we’re all in quarantine, what is your solution to keep on being creative? Where do you find your inspiration in this moment?

My solution for staying creative is to read. When I read I think of a lot of things to do, to try out. Reading helps me keep my mind active and stimulates me to fill my days with good plans and small changes.