Old is new again: Qatar teens give worn clothes a second life

Project Upcycle draws attention to the need for sustainability

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, Qazet.az reports.

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 environmental consequences of this waste are devastating: Artificial fibres such as polyester take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to break down.