On a rainy and stormy late October day in 2019, the storm typhoon VAIA caused unimaginable damage in the area of the Karer Pass in South Tyrol. Within a few hours, the gorgeous landscape with healthy and strongly grown trees turned into a battlefield of devastation. The storm brought down 1,500,000 Fm (solid cubic meters) of wood. What had been painstakingly nurtured and sustained for generations came to a dramatic end that night. The region is also known for its high quality tonewoods used in instrument making. Some of the local population lived from cultivating and selling the wood. Existences were on the verge of extinction. Even today (2 years after the incident), logging trucks are rolling out of the valley trying to bring order to the chaos. The effects of man-made climate change are cruel and do not stop at any national border. South Tyrol is also struggling with the consequences. 

WeForest Dolomites

one possible solution

With the project WeForest Dolomites, Claudia Bumb and I looked for a suitable solution approach in the 2nd semester and tried out various things. We chose our own partner for the project and approached Salewa, who also have their headquarters in Bolzano. The large quantities of wood that were produced in that one night really flooded the local wood market and caused prices to plummet.

We were also aware that our project would not solve the problem in its entirety. Nevertheless, a globally active company like Salewa has the necessary reach to set an example and to think things in a completely new way. Especially in an industry that is not characterized by sustainability "per se", there is a lot of potential for development towards more nature-friendly and sustainable concepts.

When designing the shirt, Claudia and I stuck to a classic shirt that can be worn in everyday life, at work, but also for leisure activities. Thanks to the wood-based textile, the material is breathable and to a certain extent antibacterial. Therefore, it is also well suited for lighter sports activities, such as mountain climbing.

After we made the screens for the printing process ourselves in the workshops of the University of Bolzano, and we finished printing all the pattern pieces, we still had to give the shirt its final shape. Claudia took over the sewing work in this case, as she had already gained sufficient experience at the machine during her studies as a fashion designer. My task consisted of the communication work, as well as the visual component of the project.

In conclusion, we are very happy with the final result. The prototype results in a nice coherent and simple image and also the storytelling around the project is based on extensive research. For myself, the project was also a kind of affair of the heart, as I have a deep connection to the forest and its preservation through my forestry studies. I was deeply touched and shocked by the images I created on the Karer Pass.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Salewa for giving us the opportunity to present the idea to the marketing department and the financial department. Unfortunately, we have not been able to continue the project with Salewa at this time, but we are always open to any continuation.