NEOMATIQUE AT MDF24 | Transforming Waste into High Craftsmanship

Transforming a hostile waste material into a piece of contemporary art was the challenge that led me to participate in the Madrid Design Festival 2024 (MDF24).

Under the umbrella of the Neomatique project, a visionary platform conceived by SIGNUS in collaboration with Slow Fashion Next, the objective of the exhibition at the Institución Libre de Enseñanza (ILE) was clear: to redefine the creative possibilities of end-of-life tires (ELTs) in the fashion and accessories sector.

The Research: For this event, I did not limit myself to exhibiting finished work. I presented a material archive: an in-depth sampling of research and experimentation. I developed techniques to tame tire dust, fusing it with mica through resin encapsulation, and explored its architectural limits through 3D printing.

Alongside this research archive, I exhibited three unique sculptural pieces, designed exclusively for the first Neomatique capsule collection.

Sharing exhibition space in a stand designed by Lowpoly, alongside leading sustainability brands like Ecoalf, Adidas, or Continental España, reaffirms my vision: contemporary craftsmanship and R&D must go hand in hand to lead the regeneration of fashion. Waste is no longer the end of the chain; it is the beginning of beauty.

The true success of an innovative material is not keeping it hidden, but allowing it to scale and inspire the industry. The material research developed within the Neomatique framework served as a starting point and technical demonstration for other brands to explore this path.

It is a source of pride to see how established brands like SKFK or designer María Lafuente have subsequently applied these research processes such as encapsulated tire earrings or dresses made with 3D ELT filament in their own collections.