Sustainable Fashion With Year 9s

June 26, 2024

As the demand for ethical and sustainable fashion continues to rise, consumers are becoming more aware of eco-friendly practices. This awareness puts pressure on today’s fashion designers to be accountable for their environmental impact, addressing issues such as waste, pollution, and labour ethics. Although the fashion industry has long been known for its unsustainable practices, our wardrobes don’t have to follow.

In response to this growing trend, our Year 9 Fashion students took a hands-on approach to sustainability by visiting op shops. They purchased pre-loved items to upcycle, transforming them into fashionable, unique pieces. This project not only teaches students about the importance of reducing waste and reusing materials but also encourages creativity and innovation in designing sustainable fashion. By learning to give new life to old garments, these students are contributing to a more sustainable future in fashion.

Through this project, our students are not just learning about fashion design; they are becoming part of a larger movement toward a more responsible and sustainable industry. Their efforts demonstrate how creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand, paving the way for a greener future in fashion.

Evelyn, Year 9, told us some valuable insights about the task!

What are some environmental benefits of choosing sustainable fashion over fast fashion?

Some benefits of choosing sustainable fashion are a lower carbon footprint, saving fabrics from landfill, and using fewer products to make clothes overall. Sustainable fashion, or slow fashion, is definitely not as popular as it should be compared to fast fashion, and if it were to become more common, we would be able to cut down on a lot of waste.

How do you think sustainable fashion can influence the broader fashion industry?

I think sustainable fashion could influence the fashion industry by creating more innovative and eco-friendly looks. Sustainable fashion could also change the general public’s attitudes to recycled clothes and make people value quality over quantity instead of jumping from trend to trend and buying more clothes.

How do you see the future of sustainable fashion evolving?

The future of sustainable fashion looks promising. It could lead to a better attitude towards reusing or upcycling clothes and resources and even the creation of newer and more innovative sustainable fabrics.

How did you find the inspiration in the pre-loved clothes you bought from the Op-shops?

I found most of my inspiration from Pinterest as they have a wide variety of photos and images I could get ideas from.

Creativity, Featured

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.