Lucy Reese

About

Lucy was the driving force behind the Vintage Fashion Fair Project. Transforming sustainability from a concept into a lived experience, this innovative Vintage Fashion Fair project has inspired hundreds of students and staff to rethink their relationship with clothing, waste and consumption. What began as a small £1 vintage clothing sale in 2024 has grown into a week-long, cross-college sustainability movement, engaging over 1000 learners and staff across three college centres. Combining affordable fashion, climate action and community engagement, the project has diverted hundreds of garments from landfill, avoided an estimated six tonnes of CO₂ emissions with the recent sales, and raised funds for local upcycling charities. Beyond reducing waste, the initiative has created internships, strengthened community connections and empowered students to believe that individual choices matter and small actions can drive meaningful environmental change.

Top 3 learnings

1. Consistent and regular activities can result in behaviour change.
2. Students may shift their behaviour when they have role models – their tutors, leading by example.
3. Individual’s behaviour change can lead to culture change within a big educational institution.

What it means to win

Winning a Green Gown Award would be a significant milestone in recognising and celebrating the breadth of sustainability work taking place across Morley College London. For us, sustainability is driven as much by people and behaviours as it is by buildings and technology. Winning this award would mean creating an environment where our staff feel supported to drive sustainability changes through structured initiatives, dedicated time, and institutional backing. It would mean our students feeling empowered to have a role model, particularly in embedding sustainable practice into everyday teaching and college life. It would also mean we are committed to our environmental pledges, demonstrated through measurable action in areas such as waste reduction, carbon awareness, and continuous improvement across operations. The award would also recognise the strength of our collaborative approach. Through our sustainability work, Morley has brought together more than 30 small and medium-sized partner organisations, creating a network that shares knowledge, resources, and good practice to amplify impact beyond the College itself. Green Gown Award would validate our commitment to our environmental pledges and demonstrate that lasting change comes from combining strategic ambition with grassroots action.

SDG