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The Elephant in The Room presenting the heroes shaping the textile supply chain at Milan Design Week

The Elephant in the Room is a supply chain exhibition held from 17 - 23 April 2023 at Castello Sforzesco in Milan. The Portico Dell’ Elefante (Porch of the Elephant) at Castello Sforzesco served as the inspiration behind the exhibition’s theme and is an ode to effecting positive change, exploring topics that are often left unspoken and to encourage honest conversations. The exhibition is a free experience that celebrates the textile creation process. Explore the works of heroes shaping the future of the supply chain and listen to the story of the changemakers behind the change.

Presented by BYBORRE in partnership with Castello Sforzesco, City of Milan, supply chain partners The Woolmark Company, Santoni, Groz-Beckert, Mayer & Cie and Südwolle Group, and renowned furniture design brands Montis, Arco, Lensvelt and La Bolleur, The Elephant in The Room brings together the past, present and future of textile creation. The exhibition and experience grants access to and shows the various steps involved in the textile supply chain, from sourcing materials to the creation of finished products. Informative exhibits in the castle’s ‘Sala della Balla’ provide a better understanding of the complexities and challenges in this industry, all while being surrounded by the twelve Trivulzio Tapestries that are a testimony to the rich history and craftsmanship of the textile industry. 

Over the course of three days, the consortium of partners and Nieuwe Instituut are hosting panel discussions, moderated by FRAME to bring together experts in design, architecture and material to discuss transparency, collaboration and co-design, and the importance of a (fair) supply chain. In addition, recently launched initiative THE NEW STIJL by …,staat will host a series of talks with creatives across different disciplines and styles, including Sabine Marcelis, Amber Jae Slooten (The Fabricant) and Bas Timmer (Sheltersuit). 

Find the program overview below. Registration for the exhibition and talks are now open, please register here. Spots for the talks are subject to availability. 

Exhibition The Elephant In The Room

Castello SforzescoPiazza Castello, 20121 Milan MI, Italy

Monday, April 17 – Sunday, April 23rd, from 10:00 to 17:30

Morning Industry Talks hosted by Supply Chain Partners and Nieuwe Instituut, moderated by FRAME

17 - 19 April 2023, 10:00 - 11:00 

Transparency Throughout The Supply Chain

Monday, April 17, 10:00 - 11:00

Panel discussion with pioneers in seamless knitting Santoni (Patrick Silva), furniture design brand Arco (Jorre van Ast) and Sanne Schuurman, Director & Co-Founder of Envisions.

Importance Of A (Fair) Supply Chain 

Tuesday April 18, 10:00 - 11:00

Panel discussion with world leading suppliers of circular knitting machines Mayer & Cie (Wolfgang Müller) , furniture design brand Montis (Mariëlle van der Aa, Paul van den Berg) and a special guest (to be announced soon).

Collaboration and Co-Design With The Supply Chain

Wednesday 19 April, 10:00 - 11:00

Panel discussion with global authority on Merino wool The Woolmark Company (Francesco Magri), world leading provider of industrial machine needles Groz-Beckert (Florian Mingramm) and British menswear designer Saul Nash.

Afternoon Design Talks curated by THE NEW STIJL

17 & 18 April 2023, 14:00 - 16:00 

* Doors open at 13:30

Borre Akkersdijk (BYBORRE) and Sabine Marcelis are THE NEW STIJL

Monday, April 17, 14:00 - 16:00 

Amber Jae Slooten (The Fabricant), Bas Timmer (Sheltersuit) and Mathieu Hagelaars (Studio Hagel) are THE NEW STIJL

Tuesday 18 April, 14:00 - 16:00 

Press tours with Borre Akkersdijk available upon request. Please contact press@byborre.com for press assets and other requests.  

About BYBORRE®

BYBORRE® is a pioneering textile company founded in 2015, and dedicated to transforming the textile industry through responsible creation and transparent sourcing. Merging physical and digital worlds, BYBORRE® pioneers material innovation, transparency and textile customization to make responsible textiles accessible, worldwide.

By questioning industry norms, BYBORRE® invites others to think differently and become part of something bigger—a movement that redefines the future and possibilities of textiles.


(Dutch version)

BYBORRE® is een impact gedreven textielbedrijf opgericht in 2015 en toegewijd aan het transformeren van de textielindustrie door middel van verantwoorde creatie en transparante sourcing. Door fysieke en digitale werelden te combineren en integreren, loopt BYBORRE® voorop op het gebied van materiaalinnovatie, transparantie en textiel customization om verantwoorde textiel wereldwijd toegankelijk te maken.

Door de normen in de industrie uit te dagen, nodigt BYBORRE® anderen uit om anders te denken en deel te worden van iets groters—een beweging die de toekomst en mogelijkheden van textiel opnieuw definieert.

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