The University of Arizona Is Using Apparel Recycling to Teach Students About Apparel Demand and Marketing

University of Arizona students are turning old Wildcats football jerseys into updated apparel, and influencing a new upcoming apparel line in partnership with the university that will turn recycled jerseys into new pieces and accessories.

Arizona Replay, as the project is being called, is a collaboration between the university's Marketing and Brand Management department and the Norton School of Human Ecology. Students in Norton's Apparel Production class will design the products.

The initial goal of the project was for assistant professor Elizabeth Heuisler to teach students how to market apparel to certain audiences, as well as create "well-fitting, appealing garments."

"I want the students to see that designing clothing is more than knowing what looks good," Heuisler said to the University of Arizona News. "It's hard work, and I want students to realize that there aren't a bunch of elves that come in every night and make clothing; it all has to be physically cut and sewn and created."

After students design prototypes in class, Heuisler sends a box to Marc Herman, a UA alum and chief business development officer for wholesale apparel and accessory supplier Blue 84. From there, Blue 84 manufactures items based on the student designs, sometimes using the designs as more as a "guide" than recreating them exactly.

The products are hand-stitched using jerseys and other athletic apparel supplied by the university.

Citing the popularity of thrift store culture in apparel, as well as younger generations' concern over environmental issues, Herman says that products like this appeal to a wide range of sports fans — especially college students.

Recycled material for sportswear isn't a new practice, but what this program does is teach the future generation of apparel designers and apparel business folks about how to create products that people want to wear, as well as how those products can be ethically manufactured and sourced.

"You learn so much in this class, not just about sewing and making garments," one student said. "You have to make a presentation and sell your product, too."

Arizona Replay products debuted on campus with a pop-up during UA's Homecoming 2022, and sold products during a men's basketball home game a few months later. The school will again host a pop-up during Homecoming in November, with proceeds from the apparel going toward Norton School students.

Recycled and ethically sourced material for apparel is becoming the norm. Students are learning ways to do this in inventive ways, and distributors should take note of this. Every good promotional product tells a story. There aren't many better stories than a product having a past life as a basketball or football jersey.

It also ties in with the university itself, benefitting students through education and funding.