From Romanian folk masks to a contemporary capsule collection, Pilot 1 traces a journey where cultural heritage, textile craft and digital fabrication come together.
Led by TUIASI within CRAFT-IT4SD, the process began with visual and cultural research on Romanian folk masks and evolved into the development of a sustainable crafted capsule collection presented at Romanian Fashion Week 2026.
Romanian folk masks provided the conceptual and visual framework of the collection, being approached as symbols of tradition, identity and cultural memory. Through different stages of research, textile experimentation, material reuse and digital fabrication, these references were translated into contemporary fashion pieces combining volumetric forms, expressive surfaces, felted garments and 3D-printed accessories.
From Romanian folk masks to contemporary design
The work carried out so far began with visual and cultural research on Romanian folk masks and their symbolic meanings. This research supported the development of design concepts inspired by traditional masks, archaic forms and cultural identity.
The garments were mainly developed using the felting technique, which allowed wool yarns, wool strips and fabrics to be transformed into sculptural textile surfaces. This traditional textile technique was combined with additive manufacturing through accessories and complementary elements produced using 3D printing technologies.
Materials, craft and responsible use of resources
A key part of the process has been the selection and creative reuse of materials. The collection used wool yarns, wool strips, fabrics, remaining stock ends, fabric roll ends and recovered materials.
These resources were reintegrated into the creative process instead of being left unused, contributing to the sustainable character of the collection.
The total cost of the materials used to develop the collection was approximately EUR 1,000. This included textile materials, wool yarns and strips, accessories, and 3D printing filaments. In relation to the complexity of the collection, this reflects a careful and responsible use of resources.
Developing the capsule collection
The main final outcome of Pilot 1 is a sustainable crafted capsule fashion collection inspired by Romanian folk masks.
The collection includes 18 outfits developed through a combination of textile craft, cultural research and digital fabrication. It brings together felted garments with organic textures and sculptural volumes, complemented by accessories produced through 3D printing.
The work also included styling development, with the integration of footwear provided through collaborations with specialised companies. Pilot 1 involved collaboration between TUIASI, Reginnova NE Association, Katty Fashion, Papucei Iași and Nicolis Prod.
Presentation at Romanian Fashion Week 2026
The collection was publicly presented on 23 May 2026 during Romanian Fashion Week in Iași.
This presentation provided an important context for validating the pilot results, increasing the visibility of the CRAFT-IT4SD project and promoting a collaborative model between education, industry, cultural heritage and technology.
Key message
The work carried out so far highlights how tradition and technology can work together.
By combining felting and 3D printing in a coherent design approach, Pilot 1 creates a dialogue between traditional textile craft and digital fabrication. The collection reflects the broader objective of CRAFT-IT4SD: to revitalise traditional crafts and connect them with innovative technologies for sustainable development in the cultural and creative sectors.Link to Romanian Fashion Week 2026: