UPI Students Win National Award with Sustainable Fashion Project Using Upcycled Denim
Magelang — A student-led sustainable fashion project from the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Education (FPTI), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), won 2nd Place in Indonesia’s 2025 National Student Entrepreneurship Competition, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology at Universitas Tidar, Magelang, on 17–22 November 2025. The team, known as RAW2WEAR, a circular-fashion innovation project, achieved national recognition for their environmentally conscious approach to design, production, and creative entrepreneurship.
Image 1. RAW2WEAR Team, 2nd Place KMI Award
The project’s signature product, the Denim Toast (Tote Bag–Vest), transforms discarded denim into multifunctional fashion items using patchwork reconstruction techniques. Each piece is unique, highlighting both aesthetic value and material recovery. The students also integrated West Java’s Mega Mendung motifs using munart and embroidery techniques, resulting in contemporary designs with cultural heritage appeal. The project showcases how upcycling can reduce textile waste while generating new value in the fashion industry, an approach strongly aligned with global sustainability trends and the circular economy.
All stages of product development were carried out independently by the five team members: Najiya Nur Sabila, Adinda Rizki Aulia, Fatimah, Naila Ainiyah Ahmad, and Syahnaz Khairunnisa Daniela, ranging from pattern drafting and garment reconstruction to sewing, finishing, and branding. Their technical mastery and creativity reflect the strong vocational foundation of the Fashion Design Education Study Program at FPTI.
Image 2. RAW2WEAR Team
The project also involved collaboration with denim waste suppliers and sustainability-focused communities. This demonstrates the team’s entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to responsible production practices. Their innovation aligns closely with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: transforming denim waste into functional and desirable products;
SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: promoting sustainable fashion practices in urban and consumer contexts;
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: translating vocational skills into entrepreneurial opportunities;
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: building collaborations with suppliers and sustainability networks.
This achievement was supported by continuous academic mentorship from Mila Karmila, S.Pd., M.Ds., and Dr. Mustika Nuramalia Handayani, S.T.P., M.Pd., Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Partnerships, along with the broader FPTI academic team. Institutional support, from proposal development and funding guidance to product refinement and competition preparation, played a crucial role in elevating the project to national recognition.
Through this achievement, FPTI UPI reinforces its commitment to nurturing students who are not only technically skilled but also creative, culturally aware, sustainability-oriented, and entrepreneurial. The success of RAW2WEAR highlights how vocational-based design education can produce real environmental, social, and economic impact, responding to the evolving needs of Indonesia’s future fashion industry. (Editor: SN/MNH)
