On October 18th, at the Fondazione Sozzani, the Pistoletto Cittadellarte Foundation will inaugurate CirculART, a pioneering project redefining the relationship between creativity, innovation, and sustainability in contemporary fashion. Now in its fourth edition and developed in partnership with the Kering Group's Material Innovation Lab (MIL), CirculART presents the results of a research and co-creation process that will culminate in an exhibition open to the public and open to the public for free from Sunday, October 19th to Sunday, October 26th, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The original works of six international talents—three artists and three fashion designers—born from collaborations with some of the most innovative textile companies, narrate a unique experience that combines aesthetics and responsibility, vision and concreteness.

Selected by an elite advisory board, the three artists—Camilla Alberti, Giulia Filippi, and Mako Ishizuka—together with three fashion designers—Made for a Woman, Piero D'Angelo, and Martina Boero di Cavia—and their partner companies, have created works that explore new expressive and productive possibilities.

CirculART is not just an exhibition, but an experimental laboratory where art, fashion, and industry meet to explore the pillars of the new textile economy: circularity, traceability, transparency, and responsibility.

Precisely for this reason, the creatives were supported throughout their journey by an international Advisory Board that followed the design phases, offering feedback and guidance. The Board was composed of Christian Tubito (Material Innovation Lab Director, Kering), Maria Fernanda Hernandez (Global Sustainability Expert and Sustainability Director, Temera), Matteo Magnani (Senior Policy Analyst, Ellen MacArthur Foundation), Cecilie Thorsmark (CEO, Copenhagen Fashion Week), Sara Sozzani Maino (Creative Director, Sozzani Foundation), Michelle Francine Ngonmo (Founder and CEO, Afro Fashion Association and Black Carpet Awards), Jalaj Hora (Founder and CEO, Synthegrate, former Global Vice President of Product Innovation and Consumer Creation, Nike), and Gabi Scardi (art historian and critic, director of the Public Art program at the UNIDEE Academy of the Pistoletto Foundation).

The project demonstrates how art can be a driver of transformation, guiding the fashion industry's transition towards a more ethical and sustainable model. Indeed, Paolo Naldini, General Director of the Pistoletto Foundation, emphasizes how "CirculART is the manifesto of Cittadellarte's mission in the fashion sector. Inspired by the Third Paradise, it brings together manufacturers and artists to imagine and propose new ways of creating in a world that now demands innovation for a sustainable future. It is a testament to the role of the artist and the responsibility of industries to place these creatives at the center of conversations throughout the supply chain and towards the consumer. Now in its fourth edition, we are inspired by these companies that courageously commit to this innovative initiative and, in doing so, place art at the center of their development."

CirculART 4.0 was born from the idea of ​​Fashion B.E.S.T. (Better Ethical Sustainable Think-Tank), the sustainable fashion laboratory founded in 2009 by Michelangelo Pistoletto and Franca Sozzani, and is developed in synergy with the UNIDEE Residency Programs. Since 2019, CirculART has built a bridge between contemporary art and sustainability, demonstrating that fashion can be a vehicle for cultural as well as economic change.

One of the new features of this edition is the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), developed in collaboration with Temera (Beontag Group), the exclusive technology partner. The DPP accompanies each artwork with a true "digital passport" that documents its entire production chain—from raw materials to potential reuse or recycling—making the story of each creation transparent, traceable, and accessible. This disruptive innovation is destined to transform the dynamics of fashion and sustainability: not only does it guarantee authenticity and compliance with new European regulations, but it also introduces a new standard of trust between brands, creatives, and consumers. Thanks to the DPP, each garment and artwork becomes a living narrative of sustainability, craftsmanship, and innovation, also offering the public interactive digital experiences that redefine the way we experience and perceive fashion. It is a pioneering tool that makes circularity concrete and measurable, marking a decisive step towards a future where beauty combines with responsibility.

CirculART also benefits from the scientific and technical support of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the leading international authority in research and promotion of the circular economy, which since the launch of its fourth edition has offered training and workshops to both manufacturing companies and artists.

The project involves 16 leading companies active in the sustainable textile sector, representing a virtuous model of manufacturing innovation: Albini Group, Brunello, Erica Industria Tessile, Filatura Astro, Lanecardate, Lenzing Group, Maglificio Maggia, Madiva, Maeba International SB, Officina39, Piacenza Group, Pulvera, Successori Reda S.B.p.A., Regenesi, Tessuti di Sondrio, and Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia.

CirculART 4.0 also benefits from the collaboration of a scientific partner: Acqua Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and valorization of water through three fundamental pillars: Art, Advocacy, and Aid.

A documentary film documented the entire project journey, from visits to partner companies to the inauguration of the works, offering a privileged glimpse into the creative and production processes that brought this edition to life.