From the past to the future: Cooperativa Insieme gives a new perspective to objects and people. Second chance? Let’s not give it to exes, but to clothes: they can really change. Giving a new chance to those who seem not to have one is, in fact, the goal of the Cooperativa Insieme and New Is Over, whether it is objects, clothes or people. Within this reality in Vicenza, Italy, every gesture is animated by the passion to create something beautiful and functional.
Words by Beatrice Gioffrè
Their activity ranges from the management of second-hand markets, to fashion shows, to wholesale sales, to job reintegration with the aim of promoting a path of mutual enrichment, hence the name on which the Cooperativa Insieme is founded. It is not just about recycling, but rather a concrete testimony of how, with commitment and passion, it is possible to re-establish quality and value.
In an interview with one of the members of Cooperativa Insieme, the methodologies and motivations that guide the choices of restoration and reuse emerged, as well as the added value that can be donated to the community. Cooperativa Insieme adopts precise criteria to decide whether an object should be restored or transformed into a secondary raw material. One of the main approaches is reasoning on the quality of the materials, in particular with regard to tailoring. Cooperativa Insieme considers whether it makes sense to recover an H&M shirt made of 40% polyester and 60% cotton, which deteriorates after 4 or 5 washes. In these cases, in fact, the quality of the fabric does not support long-lasting reuse and, consequently, the restoration work would risk being wasted. For this reason, it is essential to carry out assessments on the quality of the material before undertaking any recovery process. Furthermore, one of the fundamental aspects for the Cooperativa Insieme is to avoid mixing too many different materials. This principle is based on the awareness that the problematic nature of textile waste and its disposal is amplified by the great variety of materials, which makes the management of recycling itself complicated.
An emblematic example of creative reuse by Cooperativa Insieme concerns the recovery of old fleeces, their first collection. The challenge was not only to recover them, but to transform them into new fashion items through an upcycling process. The tailoring intervention involved separating the most damaged pieces of fleece, in particular those with wear on the sleeves and collar, to reuse the best parts of the material. The front and back, often in good condition, were then cut and reused to create new garments. In this way, from an old hunting sweater, new unique pieces were obtained, maintaining the vintage character but adapting them to contemporary trends.
Another interesting transformation concerns ski suits from the 80s. Cooperativa Insieme has found a way to rediscover them: the ski jackets have been transformed into long coats, while the trousers have been adapted to create long skirts, with side zips that allow them to be worn over trousers in the mountains, maintaining the functionality of the original ski suit. This type of upcycling offers new stylistic possibilities, with the inclusion of vintage colours and designs, while maintaining their main function: to keep warm. One of the most touching interventions of Cooperativa Insieme refers to the recovery of wedding dresses.
Often relegated to wardrobes for decades, these garments represent a symbol of indelible memories. But why leave them to gather dust, when they could have a new life? The project focused on this idea: giving a second chance to a wedding dress, making it live again through another wedding. A touching example told to me by Giorgia, a member of the Cooperativa Insieme, concerns the story of a dress that has passed from hand to hand, witness to multiple unions: a bride chose a dress that had previously been donated by another lady, after her wedding, the dress was returned to Cooperativa Insieme two weeks later, ready to be worn immediately after by a third bride. The wedding dress therefore becomes a symbol of continuity and bond between different generations.
Their workhorse remains the “grandfather’s jacket”: these garments, which once had a great importance in men’s fashion, were now destined to remain unused. Cooperativa Insieme decided to give them a new identity. The jackets were subjected to a modernization process, with the addition of details such as zips, changes to the length or changes in the cut, while maintaining their essence intact. The aim was to give it a new, more current look, that could be worn easily in everyday life. The message we want to convey is that even an “old” garment still has great aesthetic and emotional value, and can be transformed into a fashion item without losing its history. The concept of “grandfather’s jacket” becomes a way to carry a piece of family history with you.
Among the various sectors in which Cooperativa Insieme operates, textiles seem to be the one that lends itself most to creative and imaginative work. The processing of old clothes, such as work overalls, shows how each piece can be reinvented, while maintaining a link with its original function. As for electronics, although it is a sector with ample room for recovery, the speed with which technology evolves makes it more complex to work on dated objects, such as old cell phones. Easier, however, is the recovery of small appliances that can still find a second life.
Since its inception in 1979, Cooperativa Insieme has played a fundamental role in the reintegration of people in difficulty, including drug addicts and migrants, into the workforce. This social aspect is intertwined with the mission of recovery and reuse, creating job opportunities for those in need. Cooperativa Insieme’s working environment is designed to be welcoming and to value each individual, regardless of their background. This creates an atmosphere of support and collaboration, where teamwork and mutual help are essential.
Looking to the future, Cooperativa Insieme has the ambition to expand, bringing its principles of reuse and inclusion to other Italian realities. However, reuse management and waste regulations complicate the replicability of the model in different regions, as environmental authorizations and local regulations vary. Despite this, the intent remains strong.
Cooperativa Insieme has been able to combine renewal, creativity and social inclusion in a business model that is much more than simple recovery. Every object restored or reused tells a story of transformation, not only on a material level but also on a human level. The challenge of the future is precisely to expand this model, taking it beyond the borders of Vicenza, to continue to demonstrate that when social commitment, creativity and innovation meet, the results are extraordinary.
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Words + Interview by @beagioffre | Images Courtesy by Cooperativa Insieme
Editing + Publishing by Mira W. at MOODART School of Fashion Communication