Little Designers, Big Impact: Elementary Students Showcase Upcycled Fashion on the Runway

A Kaleidoscope of Creativity: Upcycled Kids’ Fashion Takes Center Stage

In a heartwarming display of youthful imagination and sustainable fashion, a groundbreaking ‘Upcycled Kids’ Fashion Project’ recently culminated in a lively runway show. This innovative initiative, a first-time collaboration between Onward Holdings, Yoyogi Sanya Elementary School students, and Bunka Gakuen University fashion students, aimed to breathe new life into collected garments and foster environmental awareness from a young age.

Nearly half a year of creative efforts by 16 elementary students and 12 university students culminated in the “Upcycled Kids’ Fashion Runway Show” held on November 22nd. The event showcased how discarded clothes could be transformed into unique, expressive garments, blending learning, creativity, and co-creation.

Purpose of the ‘Upcycled Kids’ Fashion Project’

The project was built on several key objectives:

• Design and Creation: Empower children to design using collected clothing, with university students bringing these visions to life through upcycling techniques.

• Collaborative Learning: Facilitate a unique collaboration between university students studying fashion and environmental issues and elementary students, offering enriching creative experiences.

• Confidence Building: Host a fashion show where children wear their self-designed clothes, fostering confidence and a love for fashion.

• Future Thinking: Encourage participants to consider the future of fashion through hands-on upcycling experiences.

A Journey of Design and Discovery

The project spanned several months, from initial workshops to the grand finale:

• Late July: Initial meetings and design workshops ignited the children’s creativity.

• Mid-September: Fittings and consultations for adjustments refined the designs.

• Mid-October: Final confirmation meetings ensured every detail was perfect.

• Early November: Runway practice helped the young models prepare for their big moment.

• November 22nd (Saturday): The main fashion show brought their designs to life.

The Runway: Where Dreams Took Flight

The fashion show’s theme, “Future Fashion Connected by Upcycling ~The Future of Clothes in Children’s Hands~”, envisioned a world where fashion and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand. Against a backdrop evoking a rainbow forest, the “Regeneration Spirits” (the child models) confidently walked the runway, showcasing clothes they had personally designed.

Each garment told a story, reflecting the boundless imagination of the young designers. The audience witnessed a vibrant parade of colors, textures, and styles, all crafted from previously worn items. The approximately 20-minute show resonated with a powerful message: to enjoy fashion while protecting our planet, ensuring a rich natural environment and culture for future generations.

The full fashion show can be viewed here.

Voices from the Heart of the Project

Participants shared their joy and insights from the experience. An elementary student from Yoyogi Sanya Elementary School expressed, “It was so much fun to be seen by so many people during the show!” Another added, “I designed my clothes with winter in mind,” highlighting the personal touch in each creation. A profound comment came from a student who said, “It was good that we could recycle clothes instead of throwing them away.”

University students from Bunka Gakuen University also found the project deeply rewarding. One student noted, “Seeing the children reuse leftover fabric to modify their designs really impressed me with their rich imagination. It was challenging to bring their ‘aspirations’ and ‘likes’ to life, but it was incredibly enjoyable.” Another shared, “My interaction with the children was an experience I wouldn’t normally get. As I aspire to be a teacher, this was a very valuable experience. Also, collecting clothes and creating new designs with free combinations was something I enjoyed alongside the children.”

Onward’s Commitment to Sustainability: The ‘Upcycle Action’ and ‘Green Campaign’

This project is an extension of Onward Holdings’ broader commitment to sustainability. Since 2009, the Onward Group has been running the “Onward Green Campaign,” collecting its own brand clothing from customers. Now in its 17th year, the campaign has collected approximately 9.34 million garments from around 1.8 million customers by the end of August 2025. The core policy is to reuse and recycle these items, preventing waste and promoting a circular economy. In spring 2023, online collection was introduced, further increasing participation.

Historically, collected clothing has been repurposed into items like blankets, work gloves, and solid fuel. However, the “Upcycle Action” was launched in spring 2023 to leverage Onward’s fashion expertise for creative new applications. This initiative encourages employees to act as creators, freely expressing their ideas and designs. 90% of the revenue from their creations is returned to the creators, with the remaining 10% donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

Works available for purchase can be found here.

The ‘Onward Green Campaign’: Building a Circular System

The “Onward Green Campaign” is a cornerstone of the Onward Group’s sustainable management. It aims to establish a circular system for clothing by collecting garments from customers and maximizing their reuse and recycling potential. Recycled clothing is transformed into RPF (Refuse Paper and Plastic Fuel) for alternative energy, or into recycled yarn for blankets and work gloves. The blankets are donated to disaster-stricken areas and developing countries through the Japanese Red Cross Society, while work gloves are distributed for disaster relief, forest conservation, and educational activities.

Additionally, some usable garments are offered at charity prices through the environmental concept shop “Onward Reuse Park” (Kichijoji, Tokyo, and EC site), with proceeds supporting sustainable activities. More information about the campaign is available on the Onward Green Campaign Official Website and the “Green Onward” official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/green_onward/.

Towards a Sustainable Fashion Future

This ‘Upcycled Kids’ Fashion Project’ not only showcased incredible creativity but also served as a powerful educational tool, embedding the values of sustainability and circularity in the minds of the next generation. By engaging children in the design process and connecting them with university students, the project has sown seeds for a future where fashion is not just about style, but also about responsibility and conscious creation. It highlights a hopeful path for the kawaii fashion culture, demonstrating that charm and cuteness can coexist harmoniously with environmental stewardship, inspiring a global movement towards more thoughtful consumption and production.