TMU branded materials transition project

An outcome of the Toronto Metropolitan University renaming process is the significant waste generated in the form of branded materials. These materials can no longer be in circulation due to the sensitivities of the previous name. To responsibly manage this waste through reuse, repurpose, upcycling, downcycling and recycling, the Branded Materials Transition Project (BMTP) was created by the university. The branded textiles arm of the BMTP was a creative endeavour, a research project and an opportunity for a large-scale transition to develop circular practices within a university institution.

The BMTP is a massive undertaking with several phases and arms. A total of 3528 kg of branded apparel was collected from 21 departments, representing 32% of all university branded items. The overarching goal and task that I and a few dedicated university staff continue to pursue is, ‘how do we responsibly manage end-of-life options for all Ryerson & RAMS branded textile materials?’ This includes items such as staff uniforms, deadstock university ‘swag’ merchandise (e.g., sweatshirts, sports pennants), athletic uniforms, banners, stadium cushions and more, The end-of-life streams and various arms of the project are outlined below.

A breakdown of the total volume collected to date* is as follows:

Ryerson branded apparel - 2613 kg 

• donated to organizations with specific needs - 1247 kg

• kept internally for workshops/future projects (e.g., single use t-shirts) - 1312 kg

• refurbished for reuse (e.g. patching over old logo) - 55 kg

Ryerson Rams athletic uniforms - 915 kg 

• used in the fashion show - 100 kg

• sold to alumni - 93 kg

• donated to high schools for reuse - 372 kg

• kept internally for patching, workshops and future projects- 350 kg

*we continue to receive branded materials as it is uncovered.

upcycled gear fashion show

When Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) was renamed in April, 2022, the TMU Athletics & Recreation department was committed to a creative and sustainable approach to repurposing the Ryerson and Rams-branded materials. The upcycled gear fashion show event was led by Nuala Byles, director of marketing and Gina Vaccaro, manager of finance and strategic operations.

I, along with my assistant Tricia Crivellaro Grenier, were responsible for the creative direction of the show, recruitment, collaborating with designers to ensure alignment with creative direction, distribution of branded Ryerson/Rams materials, model fittings, collection of all leftover materials, sustainable design approaches, styling (with Sarah Jay), show soundtrack, and working with hair and production teams backstage. In addition to my role as creative director, I also designed and created an outfit for the show with Shelley Haines, a colleague and fellow alumni of TMU Fashion.

The TMU Upcycled Gear Fashion Show is part of a larger research project that I am leading in collaboration with the Athletics and Recreation that focuses on responsible textile sorting and recycling. Athletic uniforms are retired after 5 years of use, representing a steady stream of unwearable garments typically destined for landfill.

upcycled design process research

In addition to studying institutional transformations and the development of circular textile practices, the upcycled gear fashion show was also an ideal research opportunity to conduct an in-depth investigation into the upcycled design process.

All participating designer’s including myself, were part of the study.

upcycled gear exhibit

Following the upcycled gear fashion show, we held an exhibition to further highlight the upcycle design process, creating awareness about textile waste and its associated harmful impacts