Stephen F. Austin State University partnered with Cotton Incorporated in the fall to collect denim for the Blue Jeans Go Green Denim Recycling Program. Students collected 5,750 denim items, which will be repurposed into UltraTouch Denim Insulation and distributed to communities in need.
“It was such an honor for Cotton Inc. to choose SFA to film and highlight on their corporate website for the promotion of Blue Jeans Go Green,” said Jamie Cupit, instructor in SFA’s School of Human Sciences. “Many universities across the country have participated in this program, so being selected speaks volumes about our students and the success we have experienced here.”
The video follows SFA students around campus as they donate and collect recyclable denim. It can be viewed by accessing http://bluejeansgogreen.org/Spotlight/ and clicking on “Colleges join the cause.”
As part of their efforts to enhance recyclable awareness, SFA students orchestrated the “Green is the New Black” recyclable fashion show. Admission to the show was one piece of used denim clothing, and the top clothing designs were featured on the runway and in exhibits showcasing the students’ talents.
“I have received nothing but positive feedback from Cotton Inc. about the creative ways in which our students execute the program on campus, particularly the fashion show, which was planned as the community event for denim collection,” Cupit said.
Cotton Inc.’s collection goal for participating universities is 500-1,000 pieces of denim; however, SFA far surpassed that goal by collecting 5,750 denim items. The collected denim is repurposed into UltraTouch Denim Insulation, which is distributed to communities in need.
Cupit said the large number of donated denim items would not be possible without the partnership of Goodwill Industries and the Hospice of East Texas, which both donate items to add to SFA’s collection.
