Over three upcycled fashion shows, 8,000 attendees saw thousands of pounds of textiles salvaged from Tonle Sap’s waterways become runway-ready pieces designed by 35 emerging talents. These high-energy events sparked new ideas about resource recovery, youth-driven sustainable enterprise, and a culture of reuse.

Young Cambodians from across the country united to prove that bold creativity can fuel tangible environmental solutions. 

Fashion for a Cleaner Future

Three upcycled runways. 8,000 attendees. 35 designers. Over 400 unique looks. Thousands of pounds of lake debris recovered—and some pieces sold at a pop-up in New York.

Students, recent graduates, and self-taught designers reimagined discarded nets, fabrics, and plastic scraps as couture-ready garments. Each piece showed how youth-led ideas can transform environmental hazards into fresh income streams—and spotlight the power of upcycling on a national stage.

Turning Waste into Style

We teamed up with ReMade in Cambodia and Everwave, with ReMade overseeing design mentorship and Everwave managing strategic textile retrieval. This synergy united reclaimed materials and cutting-edge fashion, aligning every detail with the shared mission to turn ecological challenges into stylish solutions.

Partnerships That Fueled Creativity

After the runways, participants kept refining eco-friendly products and exploring new markets. Many now run workshops, inspiring classmates and neighbors to see “waste” as raw material for lasting local progress.

Momentum That Extends Beyond the Stage