Innovation meets design in an exciting collaboration between Protan Polska and Warsaw’s renowned School of Form. which is part of SWPS University. As part of Protan Polska’s 25th anniversary celebrations, students from the School of Form have taken roofing membranes—traditionally seen as a building material—and transformed them into avant-garde fashion, spatial structures, and everyday objects. This inspiring project is reshaping how we view construction materials, proving that creativity knows no limits.
In 2024, Protan Polska, a leader in roofing membrane production, teamed up with the School of Form to explore unconventional uses of their products. The collaboration invited young designers to experiment with roofing membranes as raw materials in their designs, turning something typically used in construction into artistic, functional creations.
The students spent months experimenting and refining their concepts under the guidance of esteemed lecturers, Dr. Iga Węglińska and Dr. Piotr Szeradowski. The process began with training at Protan’s Roofing School in Pabianice, where the students learned about the material's properties and different ways of processing it. Armed with this knowledge, they approached their designs from a fresh, innovative perspective, creating everything from clothing and accessories to futuristic designs and practical solutions.
The results were nothing short of extraordinary. The students produced a diverse range of projects, including dresses, corsets, coats, bags, pouches, and even a revolver holster. Some designs focused on functional solutions, such as a backpack with a built-in rain hood and bicycle-mounted pouches. These projects demonstrated that roofing membranes can serve as a foundation for designs that are not only practical but also bold and fashion-forward.
The final showcase took place at the School of Form in Warsaw on January 24th, 2025. A delegation from Protan Polska attended, and the presented works left everyone in awe. "The ingenuity, execution quality, and aesthetics of the presented works greatly impressed me," said Michał Miąsek, Managing Director of Protan Polska. "The students demonstrated that Protan roofing membranes can be much more than just functional construction materials. As I have seen, our roofing covers serve as a solid foundation for creative, innovative, and also practical design solutions."
"The ingenuity, execution quality, and aesthetics of the presented works greatly impressed me. The students demonstrated that Protan roofing membranes can be much more than just functional construction materials. As I have seen, our roofing covers serve as a solid foundation for creative, innovative, and also practical design solutions."
The collaboration will culminate in an extraordinary fashion show, where the students’ projects will be presented on a professional catwalk. This unique event, set to coincide with Protan Polska’s 25th anniversary, will not only celebrate the students' hard work but also highlight the innovative potential of roofing membranes in the world of design and fashion.
The fashion show will be the grand finale of a nationwide project that has pushed the boundaries of creativity and upcycling. Through this cooperation, Protan Polska strengthens its position as a leader in innovation, while also supporting emerging talent and encouraging fresh, new ways to think about materials.
Through initiatives like this, Protan Polska proves that innovation is at the heart of everything they do. Their commitment to pushing the limits of traditional materials is just one example of how they continue to lead the way in roofing technology. By working with the next generation of designers, Protan not only celebrates its legacy but also inspires future innovations that will shape the industry for years to come.
As the industry moves towards more sustainable practices, projects like this are helping to redefine the potential of materials, turning waste into opportunity and showing that creativity and innovation go hand in hand. The collaboration with the School of Form is a testament to Protan Polska’s dedication to supporting bold ideas, new technologies, and a more sustainable future.
So, keep an eye on Protan’s journey, as they continue to break new ground in design, technology, and sustainability. The future is full of possibilities—one that starts with the unexpected transformation of a roofing membrane.
