UWA Students on lawn

Cat's passion for slow fashion

08/10/2024 |
2 minutes

Cat smiling to camera

Meet Cat (she/her), a Master of Strategic Communication student, actor and costume designer, and sustainability advocate.  

As well as studying and raising awareness about issues such as textile waste and the benefits of “slow fashion”, Cat is also busy as a Western Australian National Finalist for Miss Australia Pageants 2024. Through her pageant work, Cat was able to develop and execute a Miss World ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project that aligned with her advocacy work – and so ‘Jencket’ was born!  

“The 'Jencket' Project is an initiative I created to raise funds for Variety – The Children’s Charity by repurposing old jeans into fashionable bucket hats… Through the sale of 'Jencket's,' I have raised more than $1000 to raise awareness about sustainable fashion and the significance of repurposing old clothing.” 

 As her work in the creative industry brings her into contact with design and fashion, Cat has been on a journey to educate herself about clothing consumption and incorporating strategies in daily life to reduce environmental impact. 

Reducing textile waste is crucial for Australia… each year vast amounts of water, energy, and resources are expended in the production of clothing. It takes thousands of litres to manufacture just one pair of jeans.
“I have recently completed a sustainable fashion online course through Redress… and this has fuelled my passion for sustainable practices and inspired me to actively promote initiatives like the ‘Jencket’ Project.” 

 Cat also works to educate people about what they can do to make fashion choices that will have a positive impact on the environment. Cat suggests trying to shop at second-hand clothing stores, repairing or upcycling items rather than disposing of them, and researching your preferred brands to ensure they adhere to best practice guidelines.   

 Cat’s study at UWA is an important part of her work in environmental activism. 

 “Pursuing a Master of Strategic Communication at UWA has provided me with practical skills in digital communication, which I’ve leveraged to expand the ‘Jencket’ Project… This experience has fuelled my desire to pursue further education and develop strategies to integrate sustainability practices into my creative endeavours.”  

 So next time you’re thinking of throwing out a pair of jeans, take a note from Cat’s book – you may just have a bucket hat on your hands! 

Interested in finding out more? Visit Cat's website for more tips.

 

Explore more article topics

Share this

Don't miss a moment

Stay up-to-date with the latest information about studying at UWA including, our courses and career pathways, event and webinars, key dates, what uni life is really like, tips for studying plus, so much more!

Related stories

X
Cookies help us improve your website experience. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies.
Confirm