From Ontario With Style: Postgraduate Students Win Praise for Sustainable Collections

HLOs:

By: Dianoshiya Clement, Fashion Management student

Fashion Management graduate certificate students are once again leading the sustainability conversation—this time, on the runway. As part of the WOW (Woven Ontario Wonders) Challenge hosted by Wave Fibre Mill, students Dianoshiya Clement and Nguyen Thi Minh Chau developed original fashion collections entirely from materials sourced within Ontario. The competition, which launched in December 2024 and concluded in May 2025, culminated in a public showcase at the WAVE Gala in July.

For both students, the journey was about more than design. As international students, the challenge offered a chance to explore Ontario’s sustainable fashion landscape, connect with local manufacturers, and discover the potential of circular fashion. It also served as a pathway to build stronger design-thinking skills, sourcing knowledge, and community engagement—all directly linked to Humber Learning Outcomes (HLOs).

Dianoshiya’s belt collection, “Loomed from the Land,” was selected among the top six entries and featured on the gala runway. Inspired by the Canadian seasons and guided by zero-waste principles, the collection was woven on a simple handloom and crafted from discarded sticks gathered from forest trails, fabric scraps from the Textile Museum of Canada, and handspun yarns from local weavers. Each element carried a second life, transforming waste into worth and weaving stories of renewal, memory, and respect for the environment.

"It was an incredible experience sharing my work with an engaged audience, connecting with fellow designers, and being part of a community that is deeply passionate about sustainable fashion. What stood out most was seeing how each of us, in our own way, is striving to make a difference, small steps that collectively shape a sustainable world."

Meanwhile, Chau’s apparel collection focused on multi-functionality and versatility, demonstrating how even minimalist materials can be reimagined into meaningful, adaptable garments. Designed exclusively with Ontario-sourced fabrics, her collection illustrated how local sourcing and value-added design can drive both ethical and practical fashion innovation.

Together, these projects—and those of other participants in the WOW Challenge—showcase the potential of locally sourced, sustainable fashion to reduce carbon emissions, limit landfill waste, and decrease reliance on imports. More importantly, they underscore the responsibility and opportunity designers hold in shaping a fashion future that is both innovative and environmentally conscious.

By turning waste into wearables and embracing second-life materials, Dianoshiya and Chau exemplify how Humber’s Fashion Management postgraduates are not only learning about sustainable fashion—they are building it, weaving global citizenship into every thread.

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