Fashion students work with Oxfam to tackle fast fashion

Fashion students at USW have teamed up with Oxfam Cymru for Second Hand September – a project highlighting the environmental impact of fast fashion.

The first year students were tasked with scouring through clothing donations from Oxfam’s Penarth store, putting together outfits and upcycling items to create new looks.

They then presented their final choices to Sarah Rees, Head of Oxfam Cymru, at the USW’s Fashion studio at its Cardiff Campus.

Fast fashion – a term used to describe the quick turnover of fashion trends and the move towards cheap, mass-produced clothing – is said to be contributing to 8-10% of global carbon emissions, which is more than the aviation and shipping industries combined.

Sarah Rees said: “Fashion has become one of the most polluting industries on the planet, fuelling climate change which is pushing people into poverty the world over. Second Hand September is a moment for all of us to come together to choose a more sustainable ways to shop.

“The students’ creativity has breathed new life into pre-loved items, inspiring other people to help to reduce waste and champion a more sustainable way of living. By choosing second hand, these students are making a real difference in the fight against climate change and showing that fashion doesn’t have to cost the earth.”

Emma Jones, course leader for Fashion Promotion at USW, added: “The students have thoroughly enjoyed working with Oxfam Cymru to create some fantastic looks and help encourage people to buy second hand clothing.

“At USW we embed sustainability throughout our Fashion curriculum, and so projects like these are so important in raising awareness among the next generation of designers and stylists that the industry needs to change in order to help our planet.”

Charlotte, Jade and Rhys all took part in the Second Hand September project with Oxfam Cymru. Rhys said: “There are lots more second hand and vintage places around now, and we’re much more aware of the environmental impact of clothes.

Jade added: “I’ve always been used to having second hand clothes as a younger sibling, but now I enjoy being able to make clothes last longer. There’s so many great second hand shops out there, so I love to make a day of it and have fun.”

Sam Eastcott, who graduated from USW’s Fashion Marketing and Retail course in 2021, now runs classes teaching people how to repair old clothes or repurpose them.

She said: “I haven’t bought a new item of clothing for three years. I didn’t like what everyone else was wearing, so I started going to charity shops to look for different stuff. Now I enjoy teaching others how to clean or upcycle their own clothes, celebrating second hand shopping and thinking about our clothes in a different way.”