UST Students Champion Sustainable Fashion in New Reality Show ‘Make and Mend!’

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Junior Communication students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) are merging entertainment with environmental advocacy in their newly launched reality lifestyle show, “Make and Mend!” Produced under the student-led M&M Studios, this project is the cohort’s second television production for their CA3288: TV Production course, overseen by Asst. Prof. Faye Martel Abugan.

At the heart of “Make and Mend!” is a commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The show pits three aspiring designers against one another in a creative challenge to craft the ultimate eco-friendly outfit. Centered around the theme “Peak Hours: What It Takes to Get There,” the competition pushes the designers to rely exclusively on sustainable practices and secondhand materials.

During the first episode, viewers get an intimate look at the three competing designers, exploring their backgrounds, unique aesthetics, and creative visions for the challenge.

The competition heats up in the second episode as designers embark on a thrift-shopping hunt for garments. During this phase, they also sit down for crucial consultations with fashion experts to refine their concepts.

The grand finale showcases the designers reconstructing their thrifted finds into completely brand-new, high-fashion looks. The series culminates in a runway presentation where a panel of judges will evaluate the designs and crown the Most Iconic Ukay Royalty.

Producing a three-part reality show is no small feat, especially for full-time students. The diverse crew behind M&M Studios had to navigate conflicting academic schedules, but they managed to turn this hurdle into a creative advantage. Driven by their studio tagline, “Creativity is better when mixed,” the team embraced collaborative problem-solving to successfully bring the project from concept to screen.

Through “Make and Mend!”, these UST students are proving that campus media can do much more than just entertain. By shining a spotlight on pressing environmental issues through the lens of fashion, the show demonstrates how teamwork and creativity can inspire positive, real-world change.