Qatar teens give worn clothes a second life
Author: Khadiza Begum
A group of high school students in Qatar is setting an eco-conscious trend by transforming worn and damaged garments into new fashion items, such as bags, face masks and scrunchies. The Project Upcycle has drawn attention to the greater need for sustainability, while highlighting the problem of massive waste in the fashion industry which, according to research presented at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in 2018, a global event focusing on sustainability, creates approximately 92 million tonnes of waste material disposed of in landfills. The students of Birla Public School in Qatar are on a mission to raise awareness of the environmental effects of “fast fashion”. Under the banner of “Undo, Uplift, Upcycle”, the students wanted to spotlight problems in the “fast fashion” industry where mass-market retailers use low-quality and hazardous materials to satisfy the growing demand for the latest trends and make higher profits. In January 2022, the team began collecting old and torn clothes, mainly from friends and family. As their campaign gained momentum, they stad receiving donations. They also sought out clothes rejected by charities since they were damaged. The students create designs for bags and other items and give them to The Sewing Studio, a local tailoring business.