Wednesday 12th May 2021, today students at Colaiste Bride Clondalkin, called Brand New 2 U, have teamed up with NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) to put on sustainable a fashion show.
BrandNew2u is a young social innovators project by the Transition Year Class. As part of a more extensive campaign led by these TY year students, the fashion show aims to raise awareness amongst young students that shopping second-hand doesn’t compromise quality and will help with the current climate crisis.
NCBI Retail has supplied the clothing and these items are styled, upcycled, and modelled by the students of Brand New 2 U project. The objective of this fashion show is to prove that you can still look trendy and cool when you buy second-hand clothes. The event took place in Colaiste Bride and was streamed live on their website and social media pages. Outfits took inspiration from sustainability, Covid19 and the environment around them.
Fiona Mallen, the Transition Year Programme Coordinator, said, “The students have really spearheaded this entire campaign, from securing funding from Young Social Enterprise to running this fashion show, their dedication to spreading sustainable practices in the fashion industry with their fellow students both locally and nationally has been humbling, and we hope it can be a legacy that next year’s Transition year students can continue with.”
As a wider project, Brand New 2 U aims to encourage students throughout the country to make more ethical fashion decisions. Brand New 2 U, has been shortlisted for the Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards within the Make Our World More Sustainable challenge. The team is now in the running to win this challenge or the overall Young Social Innovators of the Year Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards at this year’s event on the 13th May 2021. Teaming up with NCBI retail, Brand New 2 U want all students to get involved by pairing up with their local NCBI retail branch, of which there are over 120 throughout the country. This fashion show kicks off their national campaign to make students more sustainably aware.
Beverley Scallan, NCBI Head of Retail, said, “Think global, act local is something we at NCBI retail live by, so when Brand New 2 U approached us to be involved in this project, we were delighted to team up with them. In 2021 it is important to include classes on sustainability and the circular economy in the school curriculum. The students and their teachers drive to fill this gap and spread the word with schools throughout the country is something we are proud to be a part of.”
To follow Brand New 2 U on their campaign, go to @Brandnew2u_CB on Instagram, or go to NCBI.ie