C.L.A.S.S. pillows, designed by Barbara Guarducci and crafted by Manusa, se-lected as best practice example of design oriented production on the theme of “Craft design in the circular economy scenario”

I mille volti of MIDA 2019 the new Mostra Internazionale dell’Artigianato

 April 24th – May 1st 2019 – Fortezza da Basso

The Florence International Handicrafts Trade Fair faces its 83rd edition being completely renovated both in form and contents. Starting from 2019, the curators decided to develop the New perspectives of making section, dedicating it to “Craft design in the circular economy scenario”.

The C.L.A.S.S. pillows have been selected, together with other 24 italian excellences, to create a new mapping of the crafts’panorama reconnecting with the most relevant design, business and production realities with the best, sheding the light on the Italian actions toward environmental sustainability, with focus on circular economy.

In this context, the C.L.A.S.S. by Manusa pillows shine, whose creation was majestly ideated by Barbara Guarducci, a designer and creative director involved in textile and craft design projects that hold a social value as well as co-founder of Ginger Design, a creative team with a multi-disciplinary approach.

Pillows with a refined and contemporary aesthetic that blend together environmental and social values. The embroideries are ratios of plants, vegetables and natural elements. All these evoke the human DNA spiral in order to highlight the relation between humans and nature that was a key element of the immersive path created for the C.L.A.S.S. 10 years anniversary in New York on March 2018 curated by Ginger Design. There, the pillows where a decoration element creted ad hoc for an event that aimed to celebrate sustainable textiles through a sensorial journey in which performing art, visual art and food design were blended. The materials used for the pillows are from the C.L.A.S.S. Material Hub, the global resource for smart material innovation, education, marketing and communication founded in 2007. Specializing in integrating new generation of smart values for fashion, products and businesses.

These values are essential for today’s knowledgeable conscious consumer. The C.L.A.S.S. material hub gathers together smart innovative materials from our global partners that inspire creativity and infuse technology, performance and sustainable credentials that take steps toward a circular economy. The Bacx™ by Centro Seta organic silks, the precious Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei, the natural Organic Cotton Colours, the purely circular economy Re.VerSo™ wools, the ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei premium stretch, the Naturally Advanced jersey by TINTEX Textiles and the organic wools by Zignone take the lead.


The social value is integrated within these products thanks to the Manusa’s manufacturing, a social cooperative with a ‘circular economy’ DNA thanks aiming to revitalize typically local traditional textile techniques as knitting, embroidery, and mending, involving people that belong to belong to disadvantaged groups. Asylum seekers and people with precarious situations can gain a new level of dignity and a better future. The Manusa’s products perfectly combine contemporary design and tradition ctelling stories of socially redeeming, creative development and quality.  

In order to communicate at best the valuable DNA of this project, we will project a video created by Cristina Picchi, award-winning Italian artist and director, whose films have been screened at festivals and galleries worldwide. This short version of the original video, created for C.L.A.S.S during an immersive parth at C.L.A.S.S.’10 years anniversary in New York, captures a unique interaction between nature, science and human intelligence. The artist creates a fascinating harmony between the various phases of the textile process and the cycles of natural elements.

A mesmerizing experience celebrating C.L.A.S.S.’ values and enduring mission; Heritage, Smart Innovation, Circular Economy, and Design Responsibility.

In a groundbreaking development for the textile industry, C.L.A.S.S., an advocate for sustainable innovation, proudly highlights the achievements of its partner, ERCA Textile Chemical Solutions, with their latest innovation, REVE…