Sustainability Initiatives

The School of Fashion is committed to promoting and advocating sustainable development. In alignment with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and as a member of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Canada, a global network of postsecondary institutions, the school has worked to integrate sustainable practices into its teaching and initiatives on campus.

 

SDG Student Hub at Seneca

Suad found a passion for sustainability in her first semester of studies in the FBM program. She participated in several sustainability initiatives and even founded the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Student Hub at Seneca as a place where students across different academic programs could learn about the SDGs, collaborate and realize their potential for making a difference.


Exposing the Secrets of Sustainable Fashion

As part of an episode focused on sustainability in the fashion industry, CBC’s Marketplace visited Seneca Polytechnic’s School of Fashion and Professor Sabine Weber to discuss the difficulty of textile recycling.

View the episode and read the article:

Sheep Shearing at King Campus

Seneca’s Veterinary Technician and Fashion Arts programs collaborated in a sheep shearing project that teaches fashion students about the process of shearing wool and turning it into yarn and clothes.

Read more about the sheep searing project:

Swap and Style Clothing Exchange

The School of Fashion’s “Swap and Style” events encourage students to exchange clothing and embrace sustainability. Hundreds of students joined the most recent event to help reduce textile waste and rethink consumption in fashion.

Textile Mountain - Dumpster Dive Exhibit

Sustainable Seneca and the School of Fashion held a week-long exhibit called Dumpster Dive to raise awareness about textile waste.

Learn more about the Dumpster Dive exhibit:

Textile Diversion Program

The School of Fashion hosted a series of textile diversion events and research about changing consumer behaviours in fashion consumption and disposal.

Learn more about textile diversion at Seneca:

Transforming Our World Symposium

The School of Fashion celebrated its membership in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Canada, a global network of postsecondary institutions, by hosting its first symposium, Transforming Our World. 

Learn more about the Transforming Our World Symposium:

Sustainable Projects in Fashion Arts program

Fashion Arts students demonstrate Seneca’s sustainability principles through their collections and projects, including zero-waste design, natural dyes, upcycling and slow fashion.


Graduating Collection by Arya Ertekin

Winning Best in Show award, the student used upcycled denim materials to create a sustainable collection.

Seneca Redefining Design 2019, Fashion Art Toronto

Graduating Collection by Brian Pao, the Avant-Garde award recipient

The student used a zero-waste technique for his collection.

Graduating Collection by Gabi Hur

The student used upcycled hand knitted materials to create a sustainable collection.

Seneca Redefining Design 2019, Fashion Art Toronto


Graduating Collection by Kennedy Turner, Sustainability Award recipient

This collection was crafted with the goal of using no new materials, with a focus on the upcycling of thrifted bed sheets, thrifted lingerie slips for the

appliqué flowers, upcycled strap adjusters and repurposed zippers. 

Graduating Collection by Kristene Griffis

The student used Gerber Accumark pattern making software to develop zero-waste garments.

Zero Waste Designs by Marysol Kim

The Fashion Arts graduate created these original designs and photos.

Zero Waste Research Project 2017


Graduating Collection by Shiva Hashemi

The student used upcycled materials to create a sustainable collection.

Zero Waste Design by Suki Chow

The Fashion Arts graduate created this original design.

Sustainable Projects in Virtual Merchandising Arts program

The Visual Merchandising Arts program integrated sustainability into student project work by using recycled and upcycled materials.


Inspiration: Upcycled/Recycled

Category: Home Décor

Process: An asymmetrical modern shelving unit, utilizing various types of upcycled panels of wood to showcase minimalism can be done responsibly.

Materials: Reclaimed wood

Team: Mehra Farhadi, Mona (Zahra) Hadaegh and Yanny Yi

Inspiration: Upcycled/Recycled Materials

Category: Home Décor

Process: Wooden pallets were upcycled and used as a textured backdrop, while empty wooden wire spools are used as risers.

Materials: Upcycled wooden pallets, wooden wire spools and paint

Team: Mehra Farhadi, Mona (Zahra) Hadaegh and Yanny Yi

Inspiration: Pop of Colour

Category: Fashion Brand

Process: The bright colours of the handmade daisy props (made from recycled materials) contrast the dark colour of the Daisy Nike Air Max 1 sneakers and backdrop.

Materials: Bristol board, upcycled styrofoam balls, coloured vinyl and foam core

Team: Melissa Mora, Bill (Ngo Anh Dung) Tran and Paula Marin


Inspiration: Upcycled/Recycled Materials

Category: Environment

Process: Denim garments were deconstructed to create a dress (bustier made from pockets and skirt from strips of denim) and angel wings.

Materials: Upcycled denim jeans, paint and vinyl

Team: Melissa Mora, Bill Tran and Paula Marin

Inspiration: Inspired By Nature

Category: Beauty & Wellness

Process: The bees are suspended using skewers creating depth and movement. Hexagon shapes mimic the beehive while creating a focal point around the product.

Materials: Upcycled Kinder Surprise™ yellow plastic capsules (bees), paint, coloured vinyl and foam core board

Team: Rebecca Lee, Yejin Lee and Saki Hattori

Inspiration: Home Décor

Category: Upcycled/Recycled Materials

Process: Old file folders were deconstructed to create flowers and the leaf props to resemble the floral arrangement (also made of paper). The metal ribs of the file folder create the cube that is suspended and showcases the handmade floral arrangement.

Materials: Upcycled file folders

Team: Sen (Xiusen) Zhang, Mark (Zening) Zhang and Serena (Xiaomeng) Tang


Inspiration: Upcycled/Recycled

Category: Fashion Accessories

Process: Wires were stripped, twisted and coiled artistically to create seaweed and fish props.

Materials: Coloured paper, copper and silver wire sourced from Seneca’s e-waste

Team: Sen (Xiusen) Zhang, Mark (Zening) Zhang and Serena (Xiaomeng) Tang

Inspiration: Upcycled Materials

Category: Environment

Process: Plastic bottles are fabricated to resemble a tortoise caught in a net made from coloured electrical wire. Painted fish behind and in front on the glass add depth to this dark ocean environment.

Materials: Recycled plastic bottles, coloured wire, recycled artificial cherry blossom branches, paper and paint

Team: Sen (Xiusen) Zhang, Mark (Zening) Zhang and Serena (Xiaomeng) Tang