SIMON CRACKER'S WORKSHOPS BRING NEW LIFE TO OLD CLOTHES AHEAD OF MILAN FW26

Vina Liliani, a fashion photographer based in Milan, details her experience at one of Simon Cracker's workshops leading up to their Milan FW26 show.

Leading up to Milan Fashion Week FW26, Simon Cracker and REVESTO hosted two workshop days at Fondazione Sozzani, and both sessions were fully booked. The idea was straightforward: showing people how to give their old clothes a second life.

Participants were asked to bring an old T-shirt beforehand, because realistically, everyone has one sitting unused somewhere. Simone, the founder and designer behind the brand, supplied fabric scraps and leftover materials from past and upcoming collections. The room stayed calm and focused throughout both days. Everyone worked at their own pace, experimenting and figuring things out, and by the end, each garment felt uniquely personal.

The workshops were attended by people of all ages, with and without sewing experience. I joined one of the workshop days myself, and at some point we were all chatting and bonding over a few pairs of scissors we had to share between us. The whole vibe was friendly and warm, and you could tell people were genuinely enjoying the process.

Towards the end of the workshop, everyone started trying on their redesigned pieces and getting their photos taken. Some even asked Simone to sign their garments as a little memento. One woman brought a bag to upcycle, and the final result got a lot of love from everyone in the room.

What I like about these workshops is how naturally they bring people closer to the brand. There’s something very open and genuine about it, and you leave feeling like you were part of a community. It’s rare to see fashion create this kind of connection in such a direct way.

Written by Vina Liliani