From Wisconsin to Milan: Nicolina's Journey Through Creativity and Sustainable Fashion

Since May, Nicolina has been completing her internship in our workshop. The experience has given her the opportunity to deepen her passion for fashion design, discover the value of more sustainable fashion, and reconnect with her Italian roots...

A passion that brings creativity together...

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Originally from Wisconsin, USA, and currently studying Fashion Design at university, Nicolina came to Italy with a strong curiosity about the fashion industry and a desire to challenge herself in an international environment. This experience has also given her the chance to reconnect with her Italian heritage. Her grandparents, Domenico, from Ascoli, and Nicolina, from Grottammare, met in Italy before moving to the United States to start their family.

Whenever she has the opportunity, Nicolina returns to Italy to spend time with her relatives. These visits have strengthened her connection to her family's history and inspired her to learn more about her Italian roots, making her internship at Spazio 3R not only a professional experience but also a deeply personal one.

Creativity has always been an important part of Nicolina's life. From drawing and photography to writing and traveling, she has explored many different forms of artistic expression. Fashion design eventually became the place where all of those interests came together.

"Fashion has always been the best way to combine all of my creative interests," she says. Her internship in Milan has allowed her to turn that passion into real-world experience, working in the workshop each day while discovering a professional environment that is different from the one she has known in the United States.

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Learning by doing...

Moving to another country and working in a language she is still learning felt like a challenge at first. What has made the experience especially meaningful, however, has been the warm welcome she received from the Spazio 3R team.

"Everyone has been incredibly kind and made me feel like part of the team from my very first day," she explains.

One of the parts of the internship she enjoys most is spending time in the workshop, where she can work with different tools, improve her sewing skills, and learn through hands-on projects. At the same time, observing everything that happens behind the scenes has helped her better understand the day-to-day work of a professional sewing workshop.

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A new perspective on sustainable fashion...

One of the most valuable lessons Nicolina will take away from this experience is a deeper understanding of sustainability. During her internship at Spazio 3R, she has seen firsthand how creativity and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand through the reuse of materials and thoughtful design.

"Seeing how creativity and responsibility can work together has given me a completely new perspective on the role designers can play in creating positive change," she says.

As she looks toward the future, Nicolina hopes to carry with her not only the technical skills she has developed during her internship but also the spirit of collaboration she experienced every day. The relationships she built, the lessons she learned, and the experiences she shared will continue to inspire her as she begins her career in the fashion industry.