A pair of girls from ISB works on a handicraft project for Innovation Day. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Fred Schafer, ISB middle school assistant principal, said, “Innovation Day is an opportunity for all our middle school students to develop their passions and find out what they really want to learn with teachers. We don’t tell kids what they learn that day; they get to choose.”

Grade 6 students Minjoo Kim and Suri Son thought upcycling clothes would be a great way to raise awareness about a global issue.

They went to Shanghai for a middle school Global Issues Network (GIN) Conference on March 5 and 6 where they learned more about upcycling from Bunny Yan, founder of boutique upcycled fashion store The Squirrelz.

Son said, “We have learned from her different ways to upcycle clothes. We can combine men’s shirts with denim to create a skirt. We can utilize used zippers and sewing to create clothes or cut off sleeves and add patterns from another shirt to make an upcycled t-shirt.”

“As middle school students, we’re constantly growing and need new to buy new clothes regularly. We feel it is a good idea to reuse old clothes and send a message to the community that old clothes aren’t necessarily unfashionable. They can be new and pretty,” Kim said.

Middle School Principal Jon Hill said, “Innovation Day allows students to explore their talents and interests outside their comfort zone in a fun, supportive environment, while also teaching them skills essential for success in the 21st century.”