Upcycling

Upcycling is a sustainable approach that repurposes waste from production, turning it into new, valuable items, we can transform the bag into accessories or home decorations objects.

ANNALISA CARICATO

Made in Italy

Commitment to Sustainability

Under the creative direction of Annalisa Caricato, the brand has embraced a significant shift towards sustainability, especially during the COVID-19 crisis when Annalisa pursued a certification in Fashion & Sustainability Management at the EIIS in Rome. This journey has led to two key initiatives aimed at integrating a more responsible fashion model at the heart of the brand.

Annalisa Caricato bags are made from leather, metal accessories, biodegradable cotton linings, interior supports made from agave, vegetable glue, and biodegradable sewing thread. The upcycling concept involves transforming these materials, particularly defective or returned bags, into three-dimensional home decor objects. These objects, such as mirror frames, flower or plant vases, picture frames, trays, and desk or tableware items, are designed to be visually appealing and closely linked to the Rock Butterflies collection. The only components that are not reusable are the agave-based biodegradable interior support and the lining, both of which will naturally return to the environment as they are fully biodegradable.

This upcycling initiative gives a second life to production waste and aligns perfectly with the brand’s slow fashion approach, significantly reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Step One: Slow Fashion Approach

The first major decision was to adopt a slow fashion approach in the production of the brand's collections. This strategy involves eliminating mass production in favor of producing items exclusively on demand. By doing so, the brand minimizes excess production, optimizes resource use, and ensures that each piece is crafted with the utmost quality and exclusivity.

Step Two: Development of the Upcycling Concept

The second ongoing initiative is the development of an upcycling concept, which repurposes waste and non-compliant materials from the production of the Rock Butterflies collection. Although this project is still a work in progress, its structure is already well-established.