BB-MDW23-web-banner-static-3.jpg
  • jpg

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®

Founded in 2015, BYBORRE® is a textile innovation company dedicated to transforming the textile industry through responsible design and production.Their platform for custom textiles bridges the physical and digital worlds, making responsible textile creation accessible worldwide.

With groundbreaking technology that digitizes the design and production process, BYBORRE empowers designers, brands and creators to take full control of their textile creations, while ensuring conscious decision-making at every step. Collaborating with certified suppliers and production facilities, BYBORRE maintains transparency throughout the supply chain and actively works to reduce the overall textile footprint.

By partnering with global leaders in fashion, sportswear, interior design, and transportation sectors, BYBORRE drives the adoption of custom textiles through a conscious, digital-first approach – inviting others to join a movement that redefines the future of textiles.

Contact details

Related topics

Receive exclusive news

Are you a journalist or do you work for a publication?
Sign up and request access to exclusive news.

Request access

Receive BYBORRE® news on your RSS reader.

Or subscribe through Atom URL manually