Creativity meets purpose
They want to live off their creativity, they want to use it to make people live better and protect the environment. They are the IED Alumni who have chosen to put sustainability at the center of their work. We often talk about them and their successes, as we did some time ago with Niccolò Chiuppesi and his brand BENNU, and Simone Canova, aka @Kennistrip, and his commitment to Lenovo. But this is a topic that we should never stop talking about, even if only to circulate positive energy and vibrations starting with case histories that can represent real inspiration.
Sofia Esquenazi, IED Rio Alumna
With two university degrees and much care for the environment, Sofia Esquenazi is the perfect example of a techno-creative. She graduated in Fashion Design from IED Rio and is also an Environmental Engineer. Her latest fashion project is a mini upcycling collection made with the material of an expired paraglider. Her success is proof that creativity and the environment can go hand in hand and give life to fashion looks. Sofia’s creations have been chosen for brand campaigns by Via Mia and Livo Eyewear. Also, the collection has been selected as one of the six best TCC projects by IED Brasil and nominated for the Global Grad Show 2021. To learn more about Sofia and her work, follow her on instagram or take a look at her portfolio.
Manuela Catania, Alumna of IED Milan and IED Venice
Architect and designer, Manuela Catania is a passionate, eclectic, cosmopolitan and creative professional. Alumna with a Master in Fashion Design from IED Milano, and in Design System in IED Venezia, is a teacher of Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing and Interior Design. Among her goals is educating students to think more sustainably and make creative choices in an ethical manner. She lived and worked in Brazil, Malaysia, Dubai, China, India, Hong Kong and Macau. Three years ago, in Bali, she launched a sustainable design project called Visionupia and is now working on a sustainable fashion design project with the children of a local school. Find out more on the designer's website: www.manuelacataniadesign.com
Pedro Leal, IED Rio Alumnus
An IED Rio graduate, Pedro Leal is a particular furniture designer. All his creations are unique pieces, designed and made entirely from recycled materials in his studio, founded in Niterói in 2017. A commitment that combines creativity and research, a love for design, and a passion for the environment. Among his latest projects is the creation of exclusive furnishings for the new IED headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, which now occupies an entire floor in the iconic 1930s building of Casa D'Italia, To get to know him better, follow his Instagram profile.
Bianca Augusta Penhas Zagolim, IED Sao Paulo Alumna
Bianca Augusta Penhas Zagolim, Alumna in Fashion Design in IED Sao Paulo, has created AD AETERNUM, a circular design project that focuses on fabric disposal as a means to analyse the excessive speed that governs relationships between people and objects in the modern world. The project, created as a thesis at the end of her career in IED, was selected by the Brazil Design Awards for the Positive Impact Design category. Follow Bianca's work on her Instagram profile.