Schools
Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School Students Upcycle Airline Seats
Students at the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Middle School participated in a project to turn old airline seats into something new.
Wearsos is a company that is on a mission to create a socially conscious brand that inspires change and creates a better future. In partnership with the Southwest Airlines ‘Repurpose with Purpose’ global sustainability initiative in Costa Rica, Wearsos is upcycling retired airplane seats into new exciting products while aligning itself to its three guiding principles: To reduce waste, to promote rural economy activation and to provide educational spaces for those involved in the process. Wearsos comes from the idea of ‘Wearing Sustainability’ or ‘Sostenbilidad’ in Spanish.
Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School students partnered with Wearsos to also try and upcycle leather into their own products.
Will C. shared,"I liked working on this project because it helps get waste out of landfills and it also taught me how to sew."
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Students met virtually with a Wearsos representative to learn more about their initiatives before creating products. After all the products were created, they were auctioned off during Family Conferences with all proceeds going back to Wearsos. This project provided a space for innovation and learning through hands-on practice while sparking real positive change.
Gavin B. explained, "I had a lot of fun working with my friends on this project, especially knowing that we are helping the planet and a community in Costa Rica."
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This upcycling project promotes sustainability and helps students learn about the environmental impact of waste and helps contribute to a more eco-friendly mindset. The hands-on project enhances students' creativity and innovation. They have the opportunity to come up with unique designs and solutions for repurposing the leather, fostering problem-solving skills, teamwork, and collaboration. The project aligns with the eighth grade Next Generation Science Standards, core ideas, and cross-cutting concepts. This is an extension project for eighth grade, so the students must complete all their regular science classwork while also working on this project.
"This takes recycling to a whole new level. I turned a Southwest Airline seat into a fashionable hat." - Jamilah G.
