TAMPA — A teen fashionista from Tampa is focusing on empowering others her age to consider filling their closets with sustainable clothing.
Elise Rowland collected 40 bags of repurposed clothes, then donated them to a local nonprofit as part of her full circle project for the Girl Scouts of America.
The high school senior is being awarded the prestigious Gold Award, and she hopes the project helps other teens take notice.
“Don’t hop on the newest trend, don’t let social media kind of dictate what you want to do. Thrifting or buying secondhand is always a great option,” said Rowland. “Don’t fall into the trap of just buying new things all the time.”
It’s part of a push for sustainable clothing, as the average American generates more than 80 pounds of textile waste each year, according to the National Library of Medicine, which also expects the global amount of wast to grow from around 90 million tons at the beginning of of this decade to 134 million tons by 2030.
“We have so many clothes in circulation already, that I wanted to give them back to those in need,” said Rowland.
Elise Rowland’s mother and troop leader, Carrie Rowland, says she is proud of the project.
“I think it’s important for the young girls to think about,” she said. “You don’t always have to buy it new and when you’re finished with it, there’s somebody else that would like to use it. It’s an important message for all of them.”
And for those who will inherit the pieces.
“I do definitely envision the kids that are going to wear them and like, it makes me happy to know that, like, my clothes are going in there, like going to somebody else who actually needs them,” said Elise Rowland.
The teen plans to keep filling that need, continuing her efforts to protect the environment while giving back.