Fresno students turn recycled clothes into a ‘dope experience’

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – School may be out for summer, but students from Fresno’s Golden Charter Academy are still learning how to turn recycling into reimagining.

On Thursday, students took a field trip to a warehouse in Downtown Fresno to find out about sustainability, upcycling, and the power of creativity. The students sorted through massive bags, weighing more than 600 pounds each, filled with donated clothes and fabric that would otherwise end up in landfills.

“These students are here not only for fashion and to create items for a fashion show,” said Jene D’Ambrosio, President of Just Porch It. “But to learn the importance of textile sustainability, textile recycling and upcycling.”

D’Ambrosio and her husband have worked in textile recycling for years. She says partnering with Golden Charter Academy, an environmental stewardship school, was a natural fit.

“They already know about compost,” D’Ambrosio said. “I was surprised at how many even knew what the word ‘textile’ meant. To take this information and further it — it’s just super exciting. We’ve got 35 kids here, and I’m ready for 300 more.”

Golden Charter staff say recycling education is important, but letting students express themselves creatively is what makes the lessons stick.

“They were preparing to come here since Tuesday,” said Tiffany Quarels, a behavioral technician at Golden Charter. “They got to take their graphs and put the textures they wanted together so they can enhance their GCA gear.”

Everything the students collected — from denim scraps to graphic tees — will be used to customize their school uniforms with stitching, patches, and personal flair.

“It’s just a dope experience that they’re able to be creative,” Quarels said. “A lot of kids don’t realize how creative they are until they see their vision come to life — and that’s what makes it so exciting for them.”

The students will showcase their new uniforms at a special event on campus once the pieces are finished.

“They think we’re going back to school today to start creating, but we’ve got 19 more days,” Quarels said. “They’re going to be able to showcase the pieces they created here.”