Mrs. Mary Lancelot, the founder of MLC Fashion and creator of the GreenSeam Upcycled Fashion Show, is tackling the issue of textile waste in Ghana through sustainable fashion practices.
Inspired by her passion for combating the increasing problem of textile waste, Mrs. Lancelot developed the GreenSeam Upcycled Fashion Show.
Ghana has the second-largest second-hand clothing market in the world, yet only a small number of people, particularly women, are involved in upcycling efforts.
Her goal is to change this narrative by increasing the number of upcyclers, especially females, and reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans.
In an exclusive interview with Climate Watch at the GreenSeam Upcycled Fashion Show, held in Accra on September 19, 2025, Mrs. Lancelot acknowledged the significance of Ghana’s second-hand clothing market but expressed concern about the environmental impact of textile waste, which affects agriculture, waterways, and overall health.
To combat this issue, she revealed that 15 designers have been trained in upcycling and showcased their work at the event.ing, who showcased their their designs at the GreenSeam Upcycled fashion show.
“This empowers designers to create sustainable fashion and their own opportunities”, she reiterated.
She further explained that, the initiative emphasizes reducing textile waste’s environmental impact through sustainable practices and empowering individuals, especially women, in upcycling.
Touching on future plans for MLC Fashion and GreenSeam Upcycled Fashion Show, she indicated that, an e-commerce platform will soon be launched for upcycled products, providing entrepreneurial education to trained designers, and organizing a larger future fashion show.
“We should not be waiting for the government or for other people or opportunity before we start to identify a problem to solve… we can create employment ourselves,” she urged.
Mrs. Mary Lancelot encouraged people with disabilities to strive for success and create opportunities rather than begging.
The fashion show featured two persons with disabilities which showed that disabilities is not barrier to achieve one’s goals and purpose.
The GreenSeam Upcycled Fashion Show highlighted sustainable fashion’s potential in addressing environmental challenges in Ghana’s textile market.
Furthermore, reducing textile waste through upcycling can mitigate environmental harm and empower individuals economically.
MLC fashion’s approach could serve as a model for promoting sustainability in fashion industries in similar contexts.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
