Orsola de Castro (born in Rome in 1966) is a pioneer and an internationally recognized opinion leader in sustainable fashion.
The daughter of a Venetian artist, she took part in her first group exhibitions of etchings and drawings in Rome and Venice aged 15. In 1986-87, she had 5 solo shows in Italy sponsored by Letraset Italia, using their famous Pantone felt-tips and presenting her illustrations and reclaimed vintage hats.
In 1997 she started From Somewhere, a revolutionary label that was the first to address the issue of pre-consumer waste and reproducibility in recycling for the fashion industry. From Somewhere collaborations include upcycled collections for Jigsaw, Robe Di Kappa, Tesco and Speedo.
In September 2006 Orsola co founded Estethica, the sustainable fashion area at London Fashion Week.
In March 2010 Orsola designed the Oscar Dress for Livia Firth, wife of best actor nominee Colin.
From Somewhere collaborates with Speedo since 2010, upcycling obsolete swimwear and fabrics for the From Somewhere with Speedo collection, including the 2012 Unity dress designed to celebrate the 2012 Olympic spirit.
In 2011, Orsola together with partner Filippo Ricci founds Reclaim To Wear, an organization that brings designers, producers and distributors to create upcycled capsule collections. Reclaim To Wear collaborations include Central Saint Martins;HKDI; as well as Reclaim To Wear by Topshop, a bestselling capsule collection which launched in June 2012 and is still ongoing.
Orsola is a Practitioner in Residence at MA fashion and Visiting Fellow at Central Saint Martin's and a regular lecturer for many universities including the Chelsea College of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent and Falmouth University as well as guest speaker at Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins. Orsola is also a key note speaker at various sustainable fashion events and summits in the UK and internationally, including IHT Luxury Summit in London in 2010.
Projects
- Dear Agony Aunt, I have a laundry problem…In this recurring series, our resident Agony Aunt (& cofounder + creative director), Orsola de Castro, answers your burning questions on all things Fashion Revolution. To submit a letter, email your frantic fashion queries to socialmedia@fashionrevolution.org with the subject line, “DEAR AGONY AUNT”.
Projects credited in
- International Women’s Day 2020, meet 100 trailblazers redefining the creative industryAt The Dots, International Women’s Day isn’t just a day – it’s a whole month! A time to take over the site and shine a light on the women and non-binary people redefining the creator landscape. For #IWD2020, we asked industry leaders to nominate the trailblazing women and non-binary people they think will redefine the creative and digital industries over the coming years. The list we’ve put together is one that beams with brilliant, talented people and their dedication to positive change. Book168
- Fashion Open Studio x Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week BerlinIn January 2021 Fashion Open Studio launched our first collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin, in partnership with the Fashion Revolution German Office, with a schedule of mentoring, open studios and showcase events. The programme helped relaunch and position Berlin as an innovative hub for sustainability and emerging talents, “so to give a stage to all those who put people and the planet before profit or at least bring both into harmony” (Harpers Bazar DE). The programme was su
- Graduate Fashion Foundation Announces 10 New Global Ambassadors!Graduate Fashion Foundation is delighted to announce 10 new Global Ambassadors are joining the charity this October 2020. From iconic designers, International buyers and Sustainability Activists to VIP Stylists, Editors and Marketing Experts, GFF are thrilled to welcome the new line-up as the latest supporters of the internationally acclaimed charity.6
- Brand Identity - Fashion Revolution 2020Design and art direction of Fashion Revolution's 2020 brand identity. Work started by defining how Fashion Revolution wanted to appear and who their community was. This helped to determine how branded content should appear, both visually and in language and form. A new visual identity and tone of voice was developed from this, including the introduction of new assets such as fonts, colour schemes, gradients and stickers, as well as wider concepts such as a strategy for the sharing of new a
- Fashion Craft RevolutionManaging production, visual commissions, art direction, design, printing, sales, marketing and fulfilment of this bi-annual print magazine. Editor Tamsin Blanchard. Design Support Bronwyn Seier. Available to buy here: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/buy-fanzine-004-fashion-craft-revolution/
- Action Required: 10 global goals that will change fashion.Brief: Fashion Revolution were chosen as one of Durham University Charity Fashion Show's beneficiaries and as part of this, FR were asked to produce something that would both support the message of Durham Uni's show whilst educating and informing a wider student and consumer audience about the problems (and solutions) that exist within the current fashion industry. Delivered: Action Required, an investigation of the fashion industry’s relationship with 10 of the United Nations’ Sustainable De
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Work history
Visiting FellowCentral Saint Martins (UAL)
London, United KingdomFreelance
Founder & Creative DirectorFashion Revolution
London, United KingdomFull Time