OUR VISION
Who We Are
Phoenix is a program collaborating with local high schoolers in the Champaign-Urbana community to teach them applicable sustainable fashion & graphic design skills, provide them opportunities in business & entrepreneurship, and develop their passions professionally through weekly workshops and our unique business and sustainability curriculum. Our students create custom pieces that are then launched to the public through our partner Karma Trade, with profits going directly back to the creators themselves. As a project, we are hoping to support the arts programs currently in place and provide additional opportunities for students to explore their niche interests by making connections with local businesses and community groups for supplies and resources.
OUR PURPOSE
Why We Were Created
Address the lack of Creative Arts Funding
Provide a Platform for Students Passionate about Design
Combat the Impact of Fast Fashion + Sustainability Concerns of the Fashion Industry
OUR IMPACT
What We Have Achieved
BUSINESSES REACHED
We have built a partnership with KarmaTrade, a community clothing swap, to enhance sustainable purchasing choices of local consumers.
GARMENTS UPCYCLED
Our students have created 15+ finished original custom designed pieces, with over 100 additional materials recovered for our inventory.
RESOURCES SAVED
Our pieces have saved 33,798 gallons of water, 325.65 kilograms of carbon emissions, and 44.3125 pounds of fabric from the landfill.
OUR CORE CURRICULUM
Which Subject Areas We Promote
DESIGN AND ART
Designing clothes or creating wearable art pieces
SUSTAINABILITY
Recovering and upcycling scrap clothing material
BUSINESS
Pricing, selling, and marketing clothing
PHOENIX TEAM
Phoenix is run by a number of passionate, driven individuals from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign dedicated to community engagement and social entrepreneurship.
PROJECT MANAGER
ALEXA SMITH
Alexa is a senior studying Natural Resources and Environmental Science with minors in Environmental Economics and Law and a Sustainability Fellows Program. She is very passionate about reducing fashion waste and mitigating the effects of fast fashion, which she hopes to address through the project!
ZIYAN CHEN
Ziyan is a senior studying Finance and Information Systems. He is very passionate about fashion and creating unique pieces through upcycling used fabrics!
EXECUTIVE MANAGER
KAVYA MULA
Kavya is a Junior studying Finance and Information Systems. She is very passionate in empowering community members to lead and initiate sustainable actions, and is very excited to be on Phoenix!
PROJECT ASSOCIATES
ANGELA ANDRADA
Angela is a senior studying Chemistry with a minor in Sustainability, Energy, and Environments. She hopes to use her research background to create more eco-friendly alternatives of single-use waste products that contribute to climate change.
AMARTYA BHATTACHARYA
Amartya is a sophomore studying Computer Engineering with a minor in Art & Design. He’s really passionate about sustainable fashion practices and environmentally conscious design!
SYDNEY NGUYEN
Hi my name is Sydney, I am currently a Junior studying Marketing and Information Systems. I am super excited to be on Phoenix this semester due to my love for sustainable fashion and upcycling clothing pieces : )
OM PATEL
Hi, my name is Om Patel and I am a sophomore studying Finance. I joined Phoenix because of my passion for fashion and clothing sustainability!
GUY PIYAKET
Hi my name is Guy, I'm currently a Freshman studying Business. I'm super excited to bring my unique fashion perspectives to the team, and learn about incorporating sustainability into the fashion industry.
STUDENT MEMBERS
Phoenix engages a number of high school students in the Champaign-Urbana region and surrounding cities. These creative and empowered individuals define our organization with their unique designs.