In a world where sustainable fashion has become a buzzword, designers are finding innovative ways to reduce waste and promote environmental consciousness. Among those include Pima Community College’s Fashion Department, one of our partners.
The Textiles class led by Nancy Spaulding focuses on textile pattern making, construction and design. Their final project however is all about sustainability and upcycling materials. We provide each student with a gift card to purchase items at our retail stores to reimagine under a class theme. Many of these designs are showcased at the annual Pima Fashion show.
When the time came for local KGUN 9 anchor Heidi Alagha to announce our Goodwill upcycle project our Goodwill team in appearance was excited to see them strut the stage. The Goodwill Upcycle Project aims to inspire a fresh perspective on fashion by demonstrating that style can be born from sustainability. Each piece narrated a story of transformation designers creativity and vision demonstrated that discarded materials can find new life as high-fashion garments.
The fusion of creativity and sustainability was evident throughout the night as well as on display were skillfully incorporated elements like patchwork, embroidery, and mixed textures. Emerging artists, a repurposed denim collection, instructor collections, a special Janis Joplin segment and even a collection by the fashion show Director and Pima alum Savannah Franco. Whose brand Zabana we have seen flourish since we first partnered with her when she was a student years ago.
The integration of an upcycling segment in a fashion show at a college level represents a shift in the industry. As designers and fashion enthusiasts embrace the challenge of sustainability, upcycled fashion has emerged as a powerful catalyst for change. By reimagining thrifted/secondhand materials and transforming them into elegant and innovative garments, designers are proving that style and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.
See full show here.