Teenager draws praise for raising money for charity with sustainable fashion shows
A Dubai teenager has won global recognition for launching sustainable fashion shows that raised Dh30,000 ($8,100) for charitable causes.
Eeman Syeda, a 16-yearold Pakistani pupil at Gems Metropole School Motor City, was named as one of the 18 Under 18 Most Influential Teens by Crimson Education, a global education consultancy firm.
For her shows, she used scraps of fabric and old, discarded clothes to create new outfits.
The proceeds from her inaugural fashion show went towards education, shelter and food expenses for more than 20 orphans in Malawi.
Money raised from more recent events has gone to Al Jalila Foundation.
“It’s an incredible honour to be recognised as one of the top 18 most influential teens in the world. And to be the only winner from the Middle East and from the UAE makes it even more exciting,” said Eeman.
“I got the idea to host this fashion show after working on a project with students in Malawi and I wanted to make an impact in some way.
“We get end-of-life fabrics, these are clothes that won’t be used any more, and clothes that people are about to throw away. I led a group of designers, pupils at the school, to upcycle the clothes, and they give the clothes a new life.
“Then we hosted a fashion show and we auctioned off the clothes, and all the money that’s raised is given to charity.”
The first edition of her fashion show, MTS Walks, was held in 2022, and it has since become an annual event.
With help from her fellow pupils, Eeman repurposes the end-of-life fabrics donated by Thrift for Good, a chain of charity shops. Other pupils model the clothes during the fashion shows, or work backstage to make sure the event runs smoothly.
She has hosted three shows at her school, and has helped teens in Britain and India organise similar events. Since 2022, Eeman has been able to raise Dh30,000 for charities.
“In order to replace fast fashion we need to take small steps towards sustainability,” she said.
“I have led more than 60 designers over the years, as well as more than 50 models.
“I wanted to do something to help people and to give back to the community and I really wanted to make a difference, which would allow me to help people globally.”
The fashion show brings in revenue from tickets and by auctioning off the clothes handcrafted by the pupils, with all money raised being donated to charitable causes. This year’s fashion show was held on January 31, with more than 350 people in attendance.
A pair of Air Jordan trainers were sold for Dh1,000, while a denim jacket with an image of a dragon brought in Dh800.
“I’m hoping to make this a permanent event every year in schools around the UAE and internationally,” Eeman said.
The Year 12 pupil aims to study engineering and entrepreneurship at a top university next year.
“I feel like my main aim is to empower people. I believe by combining both of these interests, I’ll be able to solve the biggest challenges, uplift communities, and also be able to make a difference in this world,” she said.
“I moved to the UAE when I was about five years old.
“I want to give back to the UAE and I want to give back to Pakistan and countries that are less privileged.
“Sustainability is like a garden, and small acts nurture its growth, from recycling to conserving water.”