Archiving and reactivating Made in Italy: Operational definitions, Mapping actions. The research activities at the IUAV University of Venice

Abstract

The text reflects on the role of archives in defining the concept of Made in Italy, particularly through an analysis of the active role played by archives—in their dual material and immaterial nature—in reactivating the mechanisms of design and production that define the heritage and cultures of Italian fashion today. The text therefore presents part of the work carried out by the research unit at the IUAV University of Venice to map the Made in Italy system. The text uses a theoretical approach that productively combines curatorial considerations with historical-critical paradigms, within a cultural horizon that recognizes the central role of immaterial design actions, and aims to reflect on the operational definition of fashion heritage.