AYLESBURY, United Kingdom — The Borgen Project spoke with Eeman Syeda, a Dubai teen who founded a charity fashion show, MTS Walks, to provide a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. By using end-of-life fabrics and upcycling completed by students for the fashion show, Syeda is not only providing a sustainable alternative to fast fashion but is also donating all proceeds to charitable causes like Children in Malawi and the Al Jalila Foundation.
The Idea for a Sustainable Alternative to Fast Fashion
While in year nine, Syeda participated in a school project in Malawi with like-minded students who inspired her to pursue a project that empowered and helped others. Although, initially, she had “nothing related to sustainability in mind,” her passion for it soon influenced the idea. The school visited a nonprofit thrift shop called Thrift For Good, where they discussed fast fashion, its pervasive culture with its owner and the steps they could take to mitigate it.
This led to the idea of a charitable fashion show using end-of-life fabrics and the talent of the school’s students. In 2022, while Syeda was in year 10, the first fashion show was held. Despite initial uncertainty about its success, the first show attracted more than 200 attendees and raised 3,000 Dirhams. Overall, the show has raised 30,000 Dirhams (about $8,167).
Layout of the Fashion Show
Syeda serves as the master of ceremonies (MC) and the host of the fashion show. At the beginning of each school year, she introduces the fashion show to students from year seven to year 13 to allow them the chance to partake in the show. Encouraging participation from both boys and girls, talented students are selected, as well as students who haven’t had the opportunity to have a hand in the show already – ensuring inclusivity.
More than 120 students expressed interest in organizing the 2024 show. Weekly meetings were held and those involved visited Thrift for Good to obtain end-of-life fabrics to upcycle. Dedicated students often worked after school on their designs using sewing machines provided by the school. Rehearsals were held to ensure the smooth running of the show. With 40 designers’ work being displayed by mostly first-time models—trained by teachers and Syeda herself—and musical performances, the event lasted more than two hours. Syeda states that she did not want “people to get kind of bored,” so the musical performances transformed the show into “an actual concert” as everyone would get their “lights from their phones out.”
The show partnered with six sustainable businesses and was sponsored by Spinney’s, which provided food and drinks, raising more money for charity. The show also includes speeches from sustainable businesses and an auction that the attendees get “really passionate about” at the end. Auctioning off items like Jordans from VIP Sneakers, a student-led business. The layout of the show itself changes annually to keep up the excitement, with this year inspired by Paris Fashion Week.
Charity Donations
In the first year of MTS Walks, the money collected was donated to Thrift for Good. The nonprofit sponsored three orphans from Malawi for a year, providing them with food, shelter and education. Syeda chose to donate to this cause because she believed the students of Malawi were talented and their stories were inspiring. Throughout the first show, Syeda had weekly meetings with the teachers from the school in Malawi to update them on the show’s progress.
In the next two years, the proceeds from the show will be donated to the Al Jalila Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing lives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through advancements in medical research, education and treatment. This foundation supports a wide range of causes and is known for being accommodating and easy to work with. This is particularly noteworthy given the challenges of obtaining charity approval in the UAE.
Girl Up
In addition to focusing on a sustainable alternative to fast fashion, Syeda also prioritizes leadership and empowerment. She is also the president of Girl Up at her school, a United Nations (U.N.) Foundation and a girl-centered leadership initiative. While the initiative concentrates on girls, it is also about “empowering both genders” to “pursue and to reach their full potential.”
Although it aims to “empower both genders,” it also focuses on “encouraging leadership within the student body.” Syeda’s fashion show links to this focus as she wants to show how much can be achieved “when we work together.”
Plans for the Future
Initially interested in engineering or STEM, Syeda’s involvement in the fashion show and Girl Up has shifted her focus toward leadership, debating and public speaking. She intends to travel internationally and attend university in either the United Kingdom (U.K.) or the United States (U.S.), with her “dream university” being Cambridge. Syeda’s enthusiasm about the fashion show has her currently mentoring a year 10 student who co-hosted this year’s show with her, promising a future for the show to continue and get better with new input.
While a sustainable alternative to fast fashion is the main focus of Syeda’s and her charity fashion show, another focus is the empowerment of young people – helping them reach their potential and allowing them to learn leadership skills. Her show not only highlights the importance of sustainability but also fosters a sense of community and empowerment among students, encouraging them to take part in meaningful projects.
With the charitable donations and her recognition as one of Crimson’s 18 Under 18, Syeda demonstrates the significance of the role of young leaders and a sustainable alternative to fast fashion.
– Isabella Green
Isabella Green is based in Aylesbury, England and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Courtesy of Eeman Syeda