The “Gubei Clothes Swap” (Warm Winter Clothing Recycling Program), organized by G11 English B, concluded on a heartwarming and impactful note. A variety of clothing items collected by students through the clothing drive were displayed at the event, where students and teachers came to peruse and select their preferred garments—breathing new life into unused clothing. While spreading warmth across the campus, the activity also promoted the practice of sustainable fashion and turned classroom learning into meaningful real-world action.
Classroom Exploration: Uncovering the Truth Behind Fast Fashion
The event originated from the G11 English B class’s unit on the IB theme “Sharing the Planet,” with a focus on the critical topic of fast fashion. The learning process was stepped and thoughtful:
01 / First Viewing
We watched a powerful documentary together to understand the narrative and the key issues—from environmental harm to social justice.
02 / Critical Analysis
Students then dove deeper, analysing the film’s persuasive techniques, evaluating its arguments, and discussing the real human stories at its heart.
03 / Connecting Research
This visual foundation was enriched by studying three additional articles, allowing students to synthesize information, corroborate facts, and build a well-rounded, evidence-based understanding.
We didn’t stop at being informed critics! A key goal was to move from insight into action. The students were inspired to create a positive local solution, which led to our school’s Clothes Swap Event. They helped organize everything, turning their knowledge into a practical sustainability initiative for our community.
From Insight to Action: The Success of the Clothes Swap Event
Environmental Impact: Achieving “Zero Waste”
- Collected nearly 300 pieces of clean, gently used clothing.
- Over 250 pieces were swapped (more than 80% of donations found new homes).
- Remaining 40+ intact pieces will be donated to “Earth Station Public Welfare Recycling,”a local charity supporting low-income families and vulnerable groups. Before donation, we will sort the clothes by type and check them again to ensure there is no damage or staining, and attach a small note with warm wishes from our school to each package—ensuring true “zero waste”.
Language Practice: Applying “Instruction Writing”
This project gave students the perfect, authentic context to master the text type: instructions and guidelines. As part of the English B curriculum, students applied this skill practically by creating all the promotional posters and clear informational materials around school, clearly communicating key details such as acceptable types of clothing, drop-off locations, and deadlines—honing this vital skill through engaging, hands-on experience.
Community Building: Fostering Connection and Warmth
The event drew enthusiastic participation from all students and teachers. Amidst the lively atmosphere, participants chatted and helped each other pick out suitable clothes. This simple act of sharing not only reduced the direct disposal of old clothing but also reinforced the importance of environmental protection among the school community, strengthening the sense of belonging.
Voices from Teachers & Students
Ms. Elin Morris (Head of Grade 10, English B Teacher)
“It has been my privilege to guide this wonderful project that beautifully blended language learning with real-world action. The students embraced every stage—from engaged viewers and critical researchers to proactive organizers and clear communicators. They weren’t just learning English; they were using it to make a difference. Throughout the process, they truly embodied the IB Learner Profile: Knowledgeable Inquirers, Principled Advocates, Caring Community Members, and Effective Communicators—making this activity a perfect example of CAS. This project was a fantastic example of how classroom learning can extend into meaningful action, and I could not be more pleased with their thoughtful and enthusiastic work!”
Julia Zhu (11TT)
“Overconsumption of fast fashion manifests in multiple dimensions. From the consumers’ perspective, the constant renewal of fast fashion clothing pushes people to keep up with trends, leading to the purchase of large quantities of cheap, low-quality garments. These clothes are often worn only two or three times before being discarded. As demand increases, factory workers are forced to produce more clothing within the same timeframe, often under poor working conditions, with low wages, and even incidents of child labor. The video highlighted that some people make a living by purchasing and reselling second-hand clothes from other countries. However, as fast fashion consumption grows, the quality of imported clothing collected locally has declined, significantly reducing the quantity suitable for resale. Moreover, clothes that cannot be sold are difficult to dispose of properly and end up piled in landfills or along coastlines. The Clothes Swap Event not only helped reduce the direct disposal of old clothing but also reinforced the importance of environmental protection among our teachers and students. Additionally, students in the English B course practiced real-world “instruction writing” through this event. By designing promotional posters, they learned how to clearly communicate key details such as acceptable types of clothing, drop-off locations, and deadlines—mastering this skill through engaging, hands-on experience.”
Wally Zhao (11PB)
“Thanks to the cooperation of our classmates and the unwavering support of our teachers—with special appreciation to Ms. Morris—we encountered very few challenges in organizing this event. Through this process, I gained a new appreciation for the complexities of hosting an event. I was involved in every stage, from the initial preparation—such as designing posters, writing morning announcements, and creating the presentation—to collecting, sorting clothes, and managing the desks. It was definitely a fun and memorable experience, and I am truly grateful to the prefects and teachers who put so much effort into organizing activities for us over the years. Our goal was to combat ‘fast fashion waste’ by exchanging and reusing second-hand clothes. Without this initiative, the majority of these items might have been thrown away, potentially contributing to environmental issues globally. By hosting and broadcasting this event, we took solid action to reduce waste and help make the world a cleaner, better place. A huge thank you to the other student leaders and teachers; we could not have successfully executed this event without your help!”
Chloe Feng (11AS)
“Our school’s Clothes Swap event turned out to be a great success, drawing participation from every student and teacher. Participants brought a total of around 300 pieces of clean and gently used clothing. Over 250 pieces were swapped by the end of the event, which means more than 80% of the donated clothing found a new home. We regard this activity as an eco-friendly and budget-friendly approach to clothing recycling. The lively atmosphere, where students chatted and helped each other pick out suitable clothes, also strengthened our school’s sense of community. The clothes-swapping event taught us that organizing eco-friendly activities is not that hard. Simple sharing can get people to join naturally. Also, teamwork and a readiness to adjust plans are essential to ensure the event runs smoothly. We appreciate this chance to have organized and participated in an eco-friendly initiative, truly maximizing the value of these clothes and achieving zero waste throughout the activity. Thank you to all the teachers and students for your active participation and to the English department for their assistance!”
Richard Yan (11PB)
“To raise awareness for the Clothes Swap, we used posters and announcements to communicate the event’s purpose, how to join, and its time and place. We placed the posters around the school—on bulletin boards, cafeteria entrances, libraries, and corridors—and on the basketball court doors. We also visited classes during morning form time to explain the event and answer questions, encouraging students to spread the word. Teamwork made our communication effective: we planned together, designed posters, and took turns making announcements in form rooms. During the swap, we worked as a team to sort clothes, help participants, and solve problems. This cooperation created a positive atmosphere that encouraged everyone to join. This project connects to all CAS areas. For Creativity, I helped design the posters and plan the event. For Action, I performed physical tasks like carrying boxes and sorting clothes. For Service, it helped our community by providing free clothes and helped the environment by reusing items. I learned to plan events, work in a team, and serve both people and the planet.”
A piece of used clothing, a meaningful swap, a touch of warmth, and a step toward sustainability. The Clothes Swap Event not only gave new life to idle garments but also planted seeds of environmental responsibility and community care in everyone’s hearts. It proved that classroom learning can extend beyond textbooks, and that small actions can make a big difference.
Let us continue to embrace sustainable living, share resources, and work together to build a greener, warmer campus and planet!
Special Thanks
Ms Elin Morris, Mr Kenny, Mr Ayre for their professional guidance
All G11 English B students for their enthusiastic organization
Teachers and students for their active participation
English Department for their strong support