In February 2025, Game Changers welcomed players from the University of Manchester Men’s and women’s Football teams into the university’s garment and sewing labs for a collaborative upcycling workshop with student volunteers and staff. The session was part of our ongoing mission to reduce garment waste and promote sustainable practices through hands-on learning.
Using surplus football shirts donated by the University football teams, participants learned how to transform polyester kits into reusable drawstring bags—developing basic sewing skills while exploring the environmental impact of fast fashion and textile waste.
The event highlighted the connection between sport and sustainability, bringing together students from across disciplines to consider how the clothes we wear, cheer for, and discard can be part of a circular future.
Members of the football team got stuck in, showing that you don’t need to be a fashion student to make a difference. Their enthusiasm for the cause helped spark conversations about sustainability in sport and how teams can lead by example off the pitch as well as on it.
With more events like this planned, the Game Changers project continues to grow its impact—one team, one community, one stitch at a time.
