New Generations in Textiles: Dialoghi di Filo (Dialogues of Threads) @ Palazzo Morando, Milan

Most textile students from institutions all over Europe showcase their final works and researches during graduate shows and fairs around June.

This year, though, students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan will be offered the special chance to display their designs at Palazzo Morando, as part of a wider textile exhibition entitled "Dialoghi di Filo" (Dialogues of Threads).

The event is curated by Livia Crispolti a textile expert, weaver and entrepreneur: from the '90s on, Crispolti has focused on trying to bring the art of textiles into the future by reinventing it, while creating links and connections between art, culture and textile production, collaborating with contemporary artists including Titina Maselli, Maria Lai, Franca Sonnino, Paola Besana, Federica Luzzi, Cristiana Di Nardo and Franco Summa.

The exhibition will not just focus on the students' works, but their swatches will be displayed in a sort of fashion dialogue with historical costumes recreated by the students from the Master in Set Design under the direction of Maria Antonietta Tovini, and with creations by artist Elisabetta Catamo.

"Dialogues of Threads" will therefore follow three stages in the development of textiles – Training, Production and Creation. The students' samples (made during the Culture of Textile course at the Brera Academy) will show visitors how certain techniques work and what kind of pieces can be developed on looms.

The students designed their swatches moving from various themes and inspirations, including art, fashion, and technology, and employing various materials including velvet and damasked fabrics, natural and high-tech yarns or recycled elements such as VHS tapes.

The historical costumes and Catamo's textile artworks will instead take the dialogue further and introduce visitors to new textile applications.

All the pieces on display were created using materials made available by three textile companies – Alcantara®, Dedar and Dreamlux – that sposored the event. In this way a further dialogue will be developed between craftsmanship and established industries and companies.

Maybe, rather than being a one-off, such an event could become an annual exhibition that could involve students from other countries and universities as well. Though graduate fairs and shows are indeed undoubtedly interesting showcases, they are mainly designed for professionals; such an event would instead allow ordinary people to get to know the skills taught in various art academies and universities, while discovering a younger generation of craftspeople.