Happy October, friends. Some deem this time the true start of Fall, others Spooky Season, or crazy midterm season. While it is definitely all those things, October is also an exciting time for those interested in sustainable fashion, mainly because of an initiative called Project Trashion.
If you aren’t familiar with the fast fashion industry, I suggest reading this post before diving in to the story of Project Trashion.
Today I am sharing the story of a local organization doing amazing things in the world of fast fashion. Launched in 2018, Project Trashion is an artistic movement created by Yoshi Matsuzaki, a good friend and fellow Environment student at the University of Waterloo. I sat down with Yoshi to learn all about Project Trashion, the design process and the inspiration behind the organization.
The story of Project Trashion
“You’re a student, you’re coming to university, and you’re trying to figure out what to do. For me, I still had no idea what I wanted to do.” Yoshi explained when I asked how Project Trashion began. “I didn’t even know that [Project Trashion] could be an option.”
Yoshi Matsuzaki
Yoshi came to Waterloo three years ago after spending three years in the army and one year as a bartender in Singapore. In his spare time he freelanced as a fashion photographer. He moved to Canada for school and was determined to combine his eye for fashion photography with his degree. “I thought, why don’t I combine these two things: my education and my skill set, and make something out of it.”
While Yoshi was interested in sustainable fashion, at this time running a whole fashion show wasn’t on his radar. He volunteered at Fashion For Change in first year, where he realized the potential that a fashion show had to deliver a message in a unique form.
This is where he first found the connection between his passions; he found the medium of a fashion show an interesting way to educate viewers on the impacts of the fashion industry on the planet. At Fashion For Change, Yoshi also met Michelle Sin, the fashion designer that introduced Yoshi to the concept of “trashion” and how trash could be transformed into beautiful clothing designs.
Partnering with Sin, Yoshi took photos of her designs in what was initially meant to be just an art show to spread awareness. It quickly transformed from there. “People said to me, since you know how a fashion show runs, why don’t you run one yourself?” And it clicked for him. Hence, Project Trashion was born.
The Union
The first show of Project Trashion, The Union, occurred on September 30, 2018. “The Union described the unionization or joining together of students because I feel that the university is a closed-off bubble. Is it’s own ecosystem…students don’t really interact with outside businesses or initiatives unless is peaks their interest or is convenient for them.” The Union was a way to bring local sustainable businesses directly to the students, showing them the local options they may not have considered before.
This year, Project Trashion is preparing for their second fashion show. On Sunday, October 6th, Paragon is happening on campus. Paragon seeks to have a lasting effect on its audience. “I don’t want it to be like Cirque du Soleil, where people come, watch it, and then forget about it. I don’t want it to be forgettable.”
A call to action
This year’s fashion show is a call to action, a demonstration of how to make change within one’s own life. The Union revolved around trashion itself, becoming a complicated issue when individuals asked where the trash outfits would go afterward. In that aspect, Yoshi wanted to be more practical and relatable.
“The art portion of the show is still there, but it’s not the main purpose of the show. It’s there as a last piece statement to highlight how we should reduce our consumption in general.” This year’s fashion show is themed around oceanic plastic waste and how we need to reduce our consumption of plastic-containing clothing products.
Paragon
Paragon represents the greatest example of “something,” or a “role model” as Yoshi describes it. The fashion show will model ways for students to consume clothing and accessories more sustainably and highlights local options available to them. The show is all about relatability, how people of all different backgrounds, ages, sizes and classes can come together to reduce the impact of their clothing choices. Paragon is meant to have viewers look at the runway models and say, “I can imagine myself wearing that outfit.”
How is Project Trashion making their looks more relatable? Sustainable businesses and thrifting are showcased in the show. The thrifting portion shows how reusing, reloving and repurposing clothing can be fashionable; Paragon seeks to inspire students to create outfits from local thrift clothing. “We don’t want to sacrifice individuality at all,” Yoshi said, “and we want to create those images [of individuality] out of the textiles already in the economy.”
Youth Empowerment through clothing
Project Trashion is meant for youth: from high school to graduate students, it is the prime age to make a change in one’s life. “Everyone in that age range has the ability to change their habits. Students…are better sponges. This is the time in their lives that we want to educate them about sustainability, in a very entertaining way. This is the age of social media, and image does matter, reputation does matter, and we want to leverage that.” Relating it to climate action, Yoshi’s initiative is showing today’s youth that there are sustainable alternatives in the fashion industry that do not require you to sacrifice your individuality.
Challenges to overcome
When I asked Yoshi what one of the greatest challenges in creating Project Trashion was, he said becoming a better manager. “It really teaches me not only about my own time management, but how to work with other people’s time as well.”
With a team of university students, Yoshi understands first-hand the busy lifestyle of the team. That’s why he is trying to make the most impact with the least amount of commitment from his busy volunteers. “I can’t expect people to care as much as I do. I can’t expect them to have the same level of passion…because they legitimately can’t. I knew I was going to have to put in more time, more effort. I knew that going in.”
Especially as a student himself, Yoshi is doing it all. With approximately 50 internal staff and 70 models, the team is spread across the university. With so much going on, Yoshi had to learn balance. “I learned to half my efforts but double my results.” What he learned with sustainable fashion and project management he could apply to his degree in reports or projects. He’s already living what he is writing or learning about. “That reduces a lot of the mental stress around learning these topics. Project Trashion is applicable to all my subjects.”
Connecting the dots
One of Yoshi’s favourite things about the whole Project Trashion experience has been seeing how two unrelated things work together and can synergize. “Being able to connect the dots and say, oh, that could work, has always been the most exhilarating thing.”
There is a clear message that Project Trashion is trying to share with the audience: You have a choice. “Anyone can make a choice. I personally don’t care what choice you make because it’s your life. But Project Trahion is trying to showcase that you do have a choice. As long as you know your choices, I’ve done my job.” If making change fits your desires, your social, economic and personal needs and will make you happy, that’s amazing.”
You may be wondering, where’s Yoshi’s favourite place to shop sustainably? Fun fact: he hasn’t shopped much in the last three years, wearing items from the army, gifted items and hand-me-downs. “I like to be a wallflower and blend in.” This demonstrates that fast fashion isn’t needed for a happy life, and change can be accomplished with whatever you choose to put on your body.
Paragon: Make sure to attend!
The show is happening at Federation Hall at the University of Waterloo on October 6th. There are two shows running approximately two hours, one at 12:30pm and one at 4:30pm. General seating and VIP seating with a lounge are available. To learn more about Project Trashion, ask Yoshi or the team any questions, and to purchase tickets, check out the links below:
For tickets: https://www.ticketfi.com/event/3403/paragon-by-project-trashion
Project Trashion website: https://www.projecttrashion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectTrashion/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projecttrashion/
Thank you Yoshi, or “your friendly neighbour ENBUS man” for sharing the Project Trashion journey with us. As always, thank you for reading. I strongly encourage you to check out Sunday’s show; it’s going to be like nothing you have ever seen before. I’ll be there sharing the spectacle on Project Trashion’s social media; I hope to see you there!
Until next time!