Creative pupils at Libanus Primary School have taken to the catwalk to raise awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion, hosting an inspiring ‘Trashion Show’ showcasing garments made from repurposed materials.
Held on Friday 22nd May, the event featured Year 5 and 6 learners presenting a range of imaginative, hand-crafted outfits created entirely from pre-loved and discarded textiles. The show marked the culmination of a four-week cross-curricular project combining environmental science, teamwork and design skills.
The project began when representatives from the Greyhound Charity Shop in Blackwood visited the school to discuss the volume of unsold clothing donations they receive. Inpired to take action, pupils worked in small teams, taking on roles as designers, models and researchers to transform textile waste into wearable art. They also produced their own catwalk commentaries to accompany each look.
During the event, pupils shared key facts about the environmental impact of the fashion industry, such as: producing a single cotton T-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water, washing synthetic garments releases hundreds of thousands of microplastics into the ocean, and the fashion industry is responsible for a shocking 10% of global carbon emissions.
The designs drew inspiration from influential figures such as Dame Vivienne Westwood, incorporating messages promoting more sustainable consumption. Outfits featured materials including old curtains, bedsheets and recycled knitwear, alongside bold slogans and artwork highlighting issues such as water pollution and overconsumption.
As part of the event, pupils also created educational leaflets and encouraged parents and carers to make personal sustainability pledges. The school’s ‘Vivienne Westwood Pledge Board’ was filled with commitments to repair, donate and make more conscious clothing choices.
Volunteers from the Greyhound Charity Shop judged the competition, with winning designs set to be displayed in the shop window for the local community to view.
Headteacher Nicola Williams said: “You can scarcely imagine the amount of research, collaboration and hard work the children have put into this project over the last four weeks. They have not only created outstanding designs but have also developed a strong understanding of environmental issues and used their creativity to share an important message. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and the positive impact they have had on our school community.”
Cllr Chris Morgan, Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling added: “This is an inspiration show of work, which clearly demonstrates how passionately the younger generation feel about the waste issues of today. I would like to say a big thank you and congratulations to all those involved in creating the ‘Trashion Show’. I’m sure that everyone involved will take away valuable life lessons about the importance of reducing our waste and reusing what we can.”
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |
