Santa Catarina brand transforms textile surplus into collection presented in Milan

Created in Rio do Sul (SC), Proposta Verde developed 600 garments from approximately 200 kilograms of fabrics and trimmings that would have been discarded. The Enlaço collection was presented during the Brazilian Sustainable Fashion in Milan event, with support from the Hermann Hering Foundation.

What could have been discarded by Santa Catarina’s textile industry took on new forms in the Enlaço collection by the brand Proposta Verde. Founded in Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina, the company transformed approximately 200 kilograms of surplus fabrics and trimmings into 600 signature fashion pieces presented at Milan Fashion Week.

The participation took place during the Brazilian Sustainable Fashion in Milan, held from September 22 to 24. The brand was selected through a call for proposals by the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit), through Texbrasil—the Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program.

The collection was developed in partnership with the Hermann Hering Foundation through Retrama, a program that encourages the reuse of textile waste. Fabrics such as cotton, linen, and viscose were transformed into garments featuring fluid tailoring, asymmetry, embroidery, macramé, and wooden details.

“Bringing Proposta Verde to Milan was an opportunity to show how surplus from Santa Catarina’s textile industry can be given new life through design. Our collection was born from collaboration among industry, research, and artisanal craft. We showed that it is possible to create fashion with identity and responsibility,” states Ana Suelen Pisetta, co-founder of the brand.

Design, Upcycling, and Artisanal Production

Inspired by slow fashion, Enlaço values durability, smaller-scale production, and handcrafted work. The concept gives new purpose to available materials and explores creative possibilities based on the received fabrics and trimmings.

The collection was also the subject of academic research. Co-founders Ana Suelen Pisetta and João Dolzan Júnior developed their capstone project for their postgraduate degree in Signature Fashion at the Instituto Federal Catarinense, focusing on the application of ecodesign and sustainable fashion consumer behavior.

Production received funding from the Santa Catarina State Research and Innovation Support Foundation (Fapesc) through the Mulheres+Tec 2025 call for proposals.

From Milan Fashion Week to Brasil Eco Fashion Week

Following its international debut, Proposta Verde is preparing to participate in Brasil Eco Fashion Week, scheduled for November in São Paulo. The event will offer a new opportunity to present Enlaço to the Brazilian market, particularly in a region home to a large portion of the brand’s clientele.

“We want fashion to serve as a tool for social transformation, valuing women’s labor, local resources, and the culture of our region. Being in Milan expands the visibility of this work, and now we move on to São Paulo with expectations of building new connections and opportunities for our production,” concludes Ana Suelen.

The Enlaço collection is now available on Proposta Verde’s e-commerce store at propostaverde.com.br. The brand also plans for the pieces to arrive at the new Hering Museum store in Blumenau.

About Proposta Verde

Founded in 2008 in Rio do Sul (SC), Proposta Verde is an ecodesign brand that transforms industrial surplus—such as denim, fabrics, and wood—into signature clothing, bags, and accessories. Among its partnerships is the Hermann Hering Foundation, through the Retrama program, which encourages the reuse of textile waste. Beyond fashion production, the company develops social innovation and sustainability education projects, such as Musas Coletivo de Moda, an initiative that has benefited more than 100 girls since 2022 through training activities and the promotion of signature creation.