Lusófona University and Portuguese Navy Promote Sustainability in Fashion Design

Enhancing sustainability and solidarity in Fashion Design was at the core of the Sustainability & Solidarity by UL – Navy project, presented on 15 January at Lusófona University - Lisbon University Centre. The initiative marked the first time that the Portuguese Navy partnered with a higher education institution in the field of fashion, focusing on the reuse of discontinued uniforms.

Coordinated by lecturer Alexandra Cruchinho from Lusófona University, the project included work developed by undergraduate and master’s students in Design and Fashion Production, from Lisbon and Porto. The proposals explored the transformation of former naval uniforms into new clothing pieces, accessories, and textile surfaces, adopting a circular fashion approach based on upcycling and downcycling techniques.

The project’s graphic design was led by Cátia Rijo, lecturer at the Lisbon School of Education, who presented a proposal developed by her students for creating the visual identity, at the invitation of the project coordinator. The work also resulted in a fashion editorial published in Revista Prommotion. Representing the Portuguese Navy were Commander Ricardo Sá Granja and Marine Alcides Brito, responsible for presenting the uniforms and overseeing the project, along with other marines, who expressed their appreciation for the work developed.

Beyond the academic and creative dimension, the project included a charitable aspect, linking the future reuse of the pieces to fundraising for the Associação DAR, which supports volunteer actions in hospitals in the Nampula province, Mozambique.

Text
Catarina Castanheira

Video (Coverage)
Catarina Castanheira and Beatriz Sobrado e Silva

Video (Editing)
Rui Simões