Tipp students working to fix fast fashion
Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles was among six secondary schools from Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Dublin and Sligo that took part in the Green-Schools Let's Fix Fashion catwalk event in Brú Ború Heritage Centre, Cashel, Co. Tipperary this past week. Ursuline Secondary School were joined by St Michael's Community College, Clare, Colaiste Muire, Cobh, Presentation Secondary School, Tralee, St Joseph of Cluny, Dublin and Sligo Grammar School were all selected based on their completion of various tasks throughout the year, such as documentary screenings, communication take-overs, upcycling projects, circular economy design thinking and organising a swap shop in the school.
Let’s Fix Fashion is an initiative of An Taisce’s Green-Schools and aims to promote awareness among secondary school students of the impact of fast fashion on the planet. Students were challenged to put together a look for less than 30 euro from a charity shop or create a new look or accessory by upcycling old or used materials.
The 2025 Green-Schools Lets Fix Fashion campaign celebrated its fourth year of the sustainable fashion campaign, extending to 5 participating schools in Kenya. 30 secondary schools across the country currently working on the Green-Schools programme have collaborated on the impacts of fast fashion sharing practical ideas for upcycling, textile reuse and circular innovations in both countries. JSS school in Dubai also contributed to the catwalk with a live presentation of their Junk Kouture entry.
The Let’s Fix Fashion campaign this year has consisted of four virtual events with associated tasks covering four themes commencing with the impact of Fast Fashion, with over 100 classroom documentary screenings of ‘Inside the Shein Machine’. This was followed by an inspiring upcycling workshop with Ailish Crowley, founder of sustainability consultancy, Fash Forward. The new year began with the theme of Circular Economy, with talks from Jessica Brennan Designs and Mamukko founder, Attila Magyar, who shared their approach to creating custom pieces and reworking clothing using deadstock, vintage, and locally sourced fabrics. The final webinar inspired students on how to make fashion circular through Clothes Sharing initiatives from swap shops to rentals and donations with Change Clothes founder, Mary Fleming.
The catwalk event in Brú Ború is the culmination of the hard work of the schools throughout the school year, with six schools selected to prepare looks from second-hand shops, as well as upcycled looks to wear on the runway. Before the catwalk show, attending students engaged with presentations from fashion ambassadors, a swap shop, as well as a mend and repair station, all with the aim of educating students on the importance of reusing and reworking materials, as well as providing the skills needed to give clothes a second life.