Upcycling, a term that truly resonates at LaSalle College!
Photo: Paul Doumit
In a world where the fashion industry is often criticized for its environmental impact, upcycling emerges as a creative and sustainable alternative. LaSalle College, always at the forefront of trends and eco-responsible practices, is actively engaged in this approach. But what exactly is upcycling?
Upcycling involves giving new life to used materials or clothing by transforming them into unique pieces while maintaining high quality. Unlike recycling, which breaks down materials to create new ones, upcycling values what already exists, fostering innovation and creativity.
Photo: Paul Doumit
Here is a recap of our recent initiatives:
M.A.D. Pop-Up Shop
During the 2024 edition of the M.A.D. festival, we organized a fully student-managed upcycling workshop. Throughout the festival from August 22 to 25, LaSalle College invited visitors to explore its experiential space and participate in the upcycling workshop. Participants created items assembled from reclaimed materials, designed their own screen prints, and discovered unique pieces from the SGNTR collection, made in an eco-responsible manner by the fashion design students at LaSalle College.
Photo: Paul Doumit
SGNTR Boutique at LaSalle College Festival
The SGNTR boutique is a project launched by our fashion programs, aimed at offering unique pieces designed by our students while integrating upcycling. The concept relies on clothing donations, which are then reworked by our students through sewing, screen printing, or other transformation methods. The goal is to create something new from existing elements!
Photo: Paul Doumit
C2 Montreal Activation
The SGNTR team continued its upcycling initiatives during the C2 Global Innovation Summit! Our students offered visitors a workshop to create sweatshirts made from recycled clothing, allowing everyone to leave with a unique, upcycled piece transformed for a second life.
Désorientation Event by the GRIS-MTL
During the 8th edition of the Désorientation Benefit Evening, held at the Grand Quai of the Port of Montreal, our graduate LAKUACHIMOTO captivated the audience by creating a custom outfit for the talented drag queen Adriana Bombshell. This benefit event aimed to support the essential mission of GRIS-Montreal, which works to demystify sexual and gender diversity.
During the evening, guests were also invited to participate in a fully upcycled collective artwork activation. Under the supervision of our graduate and teacher Morganna Leblanc, they had the chance to explore upcycling while delving into the world of haute couture.
DIME
As part of the Fashion Product Development course, Marianne Kettenbeil-Côté, design manager at Dime mtl and a former student of the Technical Clothing Design program, visited our students. She discussed her journey, the brand, and its clientele, and presented the semester project for our students. Through this collaboration, our students will work on a mini-collection of nine garments, including one upcycled item created from Dime’s stock surplus. Marianne will return in December to assess their concepts and provide feedback to the students.
Thank you to our teacher, Lucie Lapierre, for this initiative that allows our students to work on real projects and meet industry professionals while being eco-friendly!
Training with Experts from Finland!
The Saga Furs Creative Hub workshop strives to demystify negative perceptions associated with fur by offering courses and training directly in Finland. Their approach is based on three pillars: recycling, repairing, and remodeling fur!
Our graduate and instructor, Marc-Antoine Lynch-Boisvert, had the opportunity to travel to Scandinavia to benefit from their expertise in a creative workshop. In return, he invited the organizers to our Montréal campus to share their knowledge with our students.
Our Valuable Partners
Reitmans Canada Ltd. is proud to support the next generation and strengthen its partnership with LaSalle College. For several months, Penningtons, an active member of RCL's sustainable development working group, has implemented a program for recovering damaged samples, fabric panels, and trims from various banners of the group. This initiative helps reduce waste, promotes upcycling, and gives graduates the opportunity to push their creativity in an eco-responsible direction.
Additionally, the Québec eyewear company Bonlook enriches our initiatives by donating unsold glasses, providing fashion design students with new opportunities for upcycled projects.
Photo: Paul Doumit
