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A woman with her back to the camera, wearing a corset made of lanyards and laces
Last fall, the Athletics and Recreation department worked with fashion design students, alumni and faculty to create 27 one-of-a-kind looks made from recycled Ryerson-branded materials.

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Transforming branded items into sustainable fashion statements

When the university name changed, a TMU initiative repurposed Ryerson items, diverting tons of waste from landfills

By Jessica Leach | July 5, 2023

A woman with her back to the camera, wearing a corset made of lanyards and laces
Last fall, the Athletics and Recreation department worked with fashion design students, alumni and faculty to create 27 one-of-a-kind looks made from recycled Ryerson-branded materials.

When Ryerson was renamed to Toronto Metropolitan University in April 2022, the institution pledged to manage the transition of signage and other branded materials in the most sustainable way possible. In support of this effort, the Athletics and Recreation department spearheaded the Branded Materials Transition Project, a university-wide initiative to repurpose, reuse and recycle Ryerson branded items instead of just throwing them out.

A person working at a big table cuts lanyards

Departments from across the university donated items to be upcycled and repurposed instead of disposing of them.

A group of people sort through materials

The initiative, called the Branded Materials Transition Project, was made possible by a team of 20 people including student employees and staff volunteers.

A pile of pins.

The former university name was removed from everything from pins (pictured) to water bottles and tote bags.

Eve Uwayesu holds a basketball in her palm

Basketball athlete Eve Uwayesu wears designer shreyas saxena in collaboration with Scadding Court’s Stitch Lab community sewing program. Her dress is made from examiner’s vests, deadstock hospitality and tourism shirts, hockey socks, scarves, blankets, hats and tote bags.

Lhexen Rabit walks a runway

Lhexen Rabit, volleyball athlete, wears a design by fashion design professor Anika Kozlowski and lecturer Shelley Haines. His jacket is made from a reworked puffer jacket, pom poms, gloves, rugby scarves and rugby socks. Shirt/undershirt made from university banners. Pants made from windbreaker track pants, hockey socks and lanyards.

A call went out for departments across the university to participate in the project by handing over any items (signage, clothing, USB keys, staplers, etc.) and they delivered. The team behind the project came up with many creative ideas to repurpose items. Who knew nail polish remover would come so in handy – it ended up being highly effective for removing the old university name from items like water bottles and tote bags. 

The Athletics and Recreation department was able to reuse much of the Ryerson Rams branded clothing to create 27 one-of-a-kind looks designed by TMU fashion school alumni and worn by TMU varsity athletes in an Upcycled Gear Fashion Show last fall. The unique pieces were then auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the TMU Bold Equity and Inclusion Award. Several garments are still available and can still be purchased.

Many items were donated to Toronto Homeless Connect and The Yonge Street Mission, providing options to those in need. The university also engaged partners like the Waste Reduction Group, Souvenir Canada and Norwich Plastics to take items that were able to be recycled.

A woman stands at a podium in front of a large screen that says TMU Upcycled Gear Fashion Show

The looks created by TMU fashion design students, alumni and faculty were presented at a very special Upcycled Gear Fashion Show last fall.

A woman helps dress a model back stage

Backstage at the fashion show, designers prepped their models – TMU student-athletes – to walk the runway.

Sam Tinajero-Alvarado.

Rugby player Sam Tinajero-Alvarado wears an outfit designed by Alexandra Armata, made of basketball jerseys, track pants, shorts and banners.

Elijah Roberts

Hockey player Elijah Roberts unveiled the new look for the TMU Bold hockey jersey at the fashion show.

Alyona Ivanova

All of the looks created for the Upcycled Gear Fashion Show were available to be purchased, with proceeds going to the TMU Bold Equity and Inclusion Award. Here, multi-sport athlete (equestrian and figure skating) Alyona Ivanova shows off her outfit made of hockey jerseys and basketball shorts.

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Jessica Leach is a public relations and communications specialist at Toronto Metropolitan University.
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