Silvia Brandi, in representation of the FarmLab, spent one week in Prato, Italy, hosted by the team of Lottozero as part of a peer-to-peer staff exchange supported by European Creative Hubs Network.

The exchange was conceived as an opportunity to step into another working environment, to observe closely how a different creative hub operates, and to reflect on our own practice at FarmLab through that lens.

Lottozero is an independent textile laboratory and research space embedded in the industrial context of Prato — a city with a long and complex history of textile production. Their work moves between fashion, research, and education, engaging both emerging designers and established companies, and maintaining a strong connection to the local manufacturing ecosystem.

During the week, we were introduced to the different layers of their activity: from their residency and education programmes to their technical facilities, material library, and ongoing collaborations with the textile industry. We had the chance to take part in daily studio life, visit local manufacturers, and better understand the dynamics of a region where production, recycling, and innovation coexist at a high level of intensity.

For us, coming from a rural context, this exchange offered a complementary perspective. While FarmLab operates at the intersection of craft, agriculture, and digital fabrication, Lottozero is deeply rooted in an urban-industrial fabric. The contrast made the dialogue particularly relevant, opening questions around scale, access to resources, and the relationship between local identity and global networks.

At the same time, there were many shared concerns: how to build meaningful learning environments, how to connect making with research, and how to position creative hubs as active agents within their territories.

Beyond the institutional framework, what made the exchange truly valuable was the openness of the team and the generosity with which they shared their time, knowledge, and experience.

We return with new references, new questions, and the intention to continue this dialogue — including the possibility of hosting the Lottozero team at FarmLab in the near future.

This exchange was made possible through the peer-to-peer programme of the European Creative Hubs Network.