Creative pupils at Libanus Primary School have turned the runway into a rallying cry for the environment, hosting an extraordinary ‘Trashion Show’ to highlight the devastating global impact of fast fashion.
On Friday morning, Year 5 and 6 students showcased an array of spectacular, hand-crafted outfits made entirely from repurposed clothing. The event marked the culmination of an intensive four-week project combining environmental science, teamwork, and avant-garde design.
The journey began a month ago when representatives from Blackwood’s local Greyhound Charity shop visited the school. They shocked pupils by revealing the staggering volume of unsold clothing donations they receive weekly. Inspired to take action, the children formed three-person teams, taking on distinct roles as models, designers, and researchers, to turn textile waste into wearable art and write their own accompanying catwalk commentaries.
During the high-energy show, student comperes read out hard-hitting facts compiled by the children. The audience learned that producing a single cotton T-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water , washing synthetic garments releases hundreds of thousands of microplastics into the ocean , and the fashion industry is responsible for a shocking 10% of global carbon emissions.
The runway designs paid homage to icons like the late Dame Vivienne Westwood , featuring her famous rallying cry: “Buy less, choose well, make it last”. The innovative collection saw children strutting down the catwalk in a brilliant fusion of upcycled style and environmental protest, featuring striking garments meticulously crafted from old window curtains , superhero bedsheets , and repurposed woolly jumpers. Every design broadcasted a powerful message, with hand-painted rivers warning against waterway pollution and bold slogans demanding an end to mindless consumerism.
The event wasn’t just a spectacle; it was a call to action. In addition to creating educational leaflets, the children challenged attending parents to make a personal commitment to the planet. By the end of the morning, the school’s ‘Vivienne Westwood Pledge Board’ was covered in handwritten promises from parents to “Repair”, “Donate”, or simply “Think” before buying new clothes.
The standard of design was so high that volunteers from the Greyhound Charity shop, who acted as official judges, will be displaying the winning garments in their Blackwood shop window for the entire community to admire.
Speaking after the event, Nicola Williams, Head Teacher said:
“You can scarcely imagine the sheer amount of research, collaboration, and hard work that the children have poured into this over the last four weeks. They didn’t just design outfits; they absorbed complex environmental data and found a powerful, creative voice to demand global change. Seeing our parents engage so deeply with the pledge board showed just how successful the children were in spreading their message. We are incredibly proud of our young ‘Libanusians’!”
