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Vintage tablecloths and napkins are transformed into a contemporary garment without losing the traces of their past. With this project, Julia Migli Espinoza won the Hype-Cycling contest promoted by Amal Embroideries and Istituto Marangoni Milano for second-year Fashion Design & Accessories students, demonstrating how embroidery can become a powerful tool for innovation and sustainability.
Embroidery Meets Upcycling
Through the Hype-Cycling project, Amal Embroideries and Istituto Marangoni Milano encouraged students to reflect on the value of embroidery as a contemporary creative language. The brief went beyond a simple design exercise. Participants were asked to work with a selection of deadstock materials from Amal's archives - including sequins, threads, stones and decorative components originally intended for other productions - and reinterpret them through processes of deconstruction, reconstruction and upcycling. The goal was to demonstrate how embroidery can become a means of rethinking the lifecycle of materials and transforming existing resources into new creative possibilities.
"Our team of creatives and master artisans works across every facet of hand embroidery, from the most traditional techniques to the most experimental approaches. We constantly push the boundaries of this discipline through continuous research into techniques, materials and innovation," explains Natalie Frost, Artistic Director of Amal Embroideries.
The contest was accompanied by a dedicated educational programme consisting of workshops, meetings with industry professionals and mentoring sessions with the Amal team, giving students the opportunity to engage with the techniques of high-end craftsmanship developed by a company that collaborates with some of the world's leading luxury maisons. This comprehensive experience challenged participants to combine creative research, technical feasibility and artisanal savoir-faire.
Julia Migli Espinoza: A Project Rooted in Memory
The first prize was awarded to Julia Migli Espinoza, whose project interprets upcycling as both a creative and cultural act. Starting from vintage tablecloths and napkins, the young designer created a dress that deliberately preserves the traces of its previous life.
"I found the fabrics at the Navigli Market, which takes place on the last Sunday of every month in Milan. I purchased a set consisting of one tablecloth and twelve napkins, and from there I began draping the fabric until I found the silhouette and design that best enhanced its unique characteristics," Julia explains.
Her inspiration came from the flowering of the Ipê, a tree that symbolises Brazil's Pantanal region, whose natural life cycle becomes a metaphor for renewal and rebirth. The reclaimed textiles are not treated simply as raw materials but become the true protagonists of the creative process: their textures, imperfections and signs of time guide every design decision, helping define the garment's shape, volume and identity. The result is a reflection on the value of memory, where reuse is not seen merely as a sustainable solution but as a way of creating new aesthetics without erasing the history embedded in the objects.
As the winner of the contest, Julia was awarded a scholarship for the next academic year in recognition of her talent and to support her continued studies. This achievement reflects Istituto Marangoni Milano's educational approach: combining classroom learning with direct collaboration with companies and industry professionals, ensuring that every project engages with the real dynamics of the fashion industry.
