The journey of textile hemp begins long before a garment. For GIMMI, it means starting with the plant, understanding how it becomes fibre, and bringing agriculture, craftsmanship and design into conversation. Two encounters with students from Università Iuav di Venezia brought this journey from the classroom to our field in Castelgomberto, in the province of Vicenza, Italy.
The first was a seminar in Venice on 7 November 2025. The second, on 8 September 2026, was a day spent harvesting hemp with the students, where we grow the raw material for our artisanal project.
GIMMI at IUAV: a conversation about fashion, nature and materials
On 7 November 2025, GIMMI founder Francesco Vantin presented the project at Università Iuav di Venezia, in the Magazzino 6 building. The seminar, From field to fabric: a dialogue between fashion, nature and consciousness, was organised and introduced by Lucia Rosin as part of the Fashion Material Design Studio.
The meeting focused on the relationship between design and the origins of materials, a subject running through GIMMI’s work with hemp and other natural fibres. Bringing this experience into an educational setting means sharing a journey of experimentation, making and connections with the local area.
The official IUAV page for the “From field to fabric” seminar documents the event and introduces GIMMI’s work.
Harvesting hemp with students in Castelgomberto
On 8 September 2026, we welcomed the students to our field in Castelgomberto. This time, the starting point was the plant itself: standing stalks, those already gathered, and bundles to bring together.
The day offered an opportunity to take part in harvesting hemp by hand and experience a stage of the work that is often distant from those who study or buy a fabric. The photographs show the shared work in the field: gathering stalks, carrying them together and arranging them in bundles.
From plant to fibre: what follows the harvest
Harvesting is one stage of the process. Before it can become yarn and then fabric, hemp needs further processing. In our artisanal project, harvesting is followed by water retting and fibre preparation, before spinning and handweaving.
These stages take time and different skills. We share them through photographs and videos on our page about GIMMI’s artisanal Italian hemp, from cultivation to fabric.
The hemp grown in our field belongs to this specific artisanal project. GIMMI collections also include fabrics purchased from suppliers and materials from other sources, described on their respective product pages.
Sharing knowledge, from the classroom to the field
For us, connecting education with hands-on work means making visible the stages that come before the finished product. Yarn, fabric and clothing take on a different meaning when we understand the plants they come from and the people who work with them.
The day included a moment together at home, beside the harvested hemp. This personal exchange is part of how we live the project, too.
To explore further, discover the story of GIMMI or contact us to discuss hemp, materials and education.
