Barbara Guarducci

Barbara Guarducci is a creative director, trend forecaster, and design educator with a long-standing commitment to sustainability, ethical fashion and social impact. She is the founder of mending for good, a consultancy that develops circular creative solutions for brands and designers, combining innovative upcycling with craftsmanship and design. Her clients include YNAP, Calzedonia Group, the Zegna Foundation and emerging brands such as Bethany Williams London.

For over two decades, Barbara has designed and implemented international cooperation projects with UN organizations such as UNIDO and ITC, as well as international NGOs, creating innovative and creative collaborations that connect artisan communities and SMEs across the Global South with the fashion and design industries. Her work leverages contemporary, design-led craftsmanship as a tool for both social and economic development.

She has a long-term collaboration with fondazione zegna and san patrignano, where she leads market-oriented creative projects for the fashion and design industries that combine artistic experimentation with social rehabilitation and highlight the value of craftsmanship. Barbara has also coordinated cross-disciplinary initiatives with institutions like the London College of Fashion (CSR department) and curated sustainability-focused events for platforms such as class ecohub.

Over the years, she has contributed as an international lecturer, delivering workshops, guest lectures and courses on trend research, sustainability and the future of fashion at several institutions globally, including Universidad de San Andrés (Argentina), Universidad Católica (UC, Chile), PUCPR Curitiba (Brazil), Polimoda Fashion Institute (Italy), Sustainable Luxury Academy at Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Corso Alta Formazione Management della Filiera Moda Sostenibile (Italy), Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts (UK) and Kent State University, where she is a faculty member and coordinates the Florence Fashion program.

As a foresight contributor to VIEW Publications and Viewpoint Color, she explores emerging cultural and design narratives. She was among the contributors to the catalogue of Sustainable Thinking, the 2019 exhibition by Museo Ferragamo in Florence, Italy.

Barbara’s work is driven by a deep belief in design as a force for positive change.