From Rags to Riches: The History of Sustainability and Regenerated Carded Wool in Prato, Italy

In a world consumed by fast fashion, one town in Italy has been ahead of the curve by nearly 200 years. Prato, Italy, is a small town northwest of Florence with a flourishing recycled wool industry. Their method of recycling wool consists of collecting fabric scraps or donated clothing, sorting it by color, shredding it and reweaving it into new fabrics which can be used to make new clothes. This system embodies the idea of a circular economy which refers to the idea of recycling existing materials to give them "a second life" and prevent excess waste materials. This presentation will look at Prato's history as a sustainable textile production center as well as analyze their business and production model to reveal insights about the world of sustainable textile development and the methods used in Prato can help make the fashion world more environmentally friendly.