Radical Decisions ‘‘BREAK A LEG’’ Collection

From film costumes to fashion revolution, Berlin-based designer Melina Scappatura has stitched her passion for upcycling into a bold new label: Radical Decisions. What started in 2018 as a creative escape from the movie world became a full-blown vision, officially launching in 2023.

Scappatura’s designs flip the script on fast fashion. Old denim, men’s shirts, and even discarded blazers are deconstructed and reborn as high-fashion statements. With a craftsmanship that blends softness, rebellion, and radical detail, her work is already making waves on Berlin’s fashion scene with her third collection, “Break a Leg”, transforming broken trousers into five one-of-a-kind pieces.

The name nods to both theatre tradition and her love of remixing the old into something new. Inspired by Hermannplatz, the gritty, creative Berlin neighbourhood where she lives and works, each piece carries a slice of the city’s underground spirit. Like the bomber jacket HERMANNPLATZ. A jacket made from two broken and outworn denim trousers. Named after the infamous location known for its troubled nature, so fragile and yet so powerful. Paired with the trousers SONNENALLEE.

“I name all of my pieces after the area around Hermannplatz, where I live and where I’ve moved my atelier. The neighbourhood isn’t perfect; it has a bit of a bad reputation for good reasons, but it’s also home to so many creative people. For me, it’s a catalyst for inspiration, and naming my work after it is my way of paying homage.”

With roots in punk, grunge, and ‘90s techno, Scappatura’s Radical Decisions is more than a label. It’s a call to arms against throwaway fast fashion culture, proof that fashion can be inclusive, expressive, and sustainable. Or, as she puts it: Deconstruction to create something new. “For me, it’s about giving a little middle finger to society and fast fashion by creating this way. Upcycling comes with limitations, but those restrictions become a guide for new creations.”