By Anais Mardirosian (3/9/25) — London, UK

The fashion industry accounts for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions – but last week’s sustainable fashion show challenged this status quo, showcasing designs that redefine what it means to dress responsibly.

At the heart of the city, fashion serves as a cornerstone of London's vibrant social scene. Every year, shows like London Fashion Week showcase the gleaming city’s top designers and models, setting the stage for new consumer trends in the fashion industry. As a part of the UK Sustainable Fashion Week, several universities and nonprofit organizations are taking part in combating climate change by hosting events to educate the public about how to become more conscious clothing consumers.

Last week, Coventry University London hosted The Time Traveller's Wardrobe Malfunction, a student-run sustainable fashion show to highlight the art of vintage shopping. The driving force behind the operation, creative director and producer, Theint Nay Chi Win, expressed her excitement about the occasion. With as little as 3 weeks, she was on a crunch to prepare the show – that meant rallying up her friends and peers, emailing professors, and reaching out to potential charity partners. Most of the models, the design squad, and the makeup team are her classmates, showcasing the remarkable talent of the level 5 fashion students at Coventry.

“We’re all here for the passion – because we love fashion and we all want to take part in sustainable fashion choices,” Theint says. All the pieces presented are second-hand clothing provided by Shelter, with all the proceeds dedicated to supporting the fight against homelessness in the UK.

Held at Devonshire Square, the show had an incredible runway with models of numerous styles – the Nepo baby late to class, a graceful modern-day Marie Antoinette, a lipstick smeared and tear-stricken party girl, and a French haute couture girl in black and white stripes.

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From left to right: Nepo Baby, Marie Antoinette, Party Girl

But perhaps the most intriguing element of the show lies in Theint’s creative vision for choreography: As each model struts down the runway, their paths are interrupted by playful collisions. They bump into each other, drop their accessories, exchange glares, or, in moments of unexpected grace, pass a piece of their outfit to the next model. This fluid exchange of items highlights how a single piece of clothing can seamlessly transform a look, illustrating its versatility in countless combinations.

*A flower hairpiece being delicately added to the next model's hair.*

Anouk Winkelaar is the runway director and assistant producer of the show. As a seasoned dance teacher and actress, she taught the models how to strut with confidence, as well as perform the accessory swaps seamlessly. Each swap design featured backgrounds that brought the personas to life, like the Nepo baby pulling the professor’s coat over her pajamas in a rush to class. Second-hand stores embody this idea of “passing it on” – transforming one man’s proverbial trash into your own personal style.

*Anouk (middle) alongside members of the makeup and styling teams*

Theint and I also discussed the obstacles that come with shopping sustainability – particularly, if donating and purchasing second-hand can become a more widespread lifestyle.

“That depends on how much we as individuals put effort in,” Theint admits. With her show, she hopes that people will walk away inspired with a new creative vision to shop sustainably. “Without inspiration, people don’t have direction,” she says. “If we all as individuals make an effort, little by little, I believe that sustainable fashion can be bigger and not just a niche part of fashion.”

With the success of her show, Theint is eagerly looking towards the future. She intends to plan more sustainable-focused fashion events, which will be promoted through her personal Instagram as well as Eventbrite.