Ava Lubkemann, a student at Syracuse University, saw potential where others saw waste. Her initiative, Revamped, transforms discarded clothing into affordable fashion while addressing environmental and social responsibility.

Every year, countless garments end up in campus dumpsters, destined for landfills or incinerators. Few consider the hidden value in these discarded textiles—until Ava Lubkemann noticed the scale of the problem. What others dismissed as trash, she recognized as an opportunity for innovation and impact.

Driven by a commitment to sustainability, Lubkemann founded Revamped, a venture that collects, refurbishes, and resells abandoned clothing across Syracuse University. The initiative not only reduces textile waste but also provides budget-friendly fashion options for students and community members. Her model merges environmental consciousness with social purpose, proving that sustainability can be both practical and profitable.

Support from Syracuse University’s library advisors and the Whitman School of Management helped turn Lubkemann’s vision into reality. Resources and mentorship enabled Revamped to establish efficient collection systems and creative upcycling methods, ensuring each piece finds a second life.

Lubkemann’s project exemplifies how student-led initiatives can address systemic waste while fostering responsible consumption. By intercepting clothing before it reaches landfills, Revamped challenges the disposable culture of fast fashion and redefines what it means to be both stylish and sustainable.

Her story is more than a campus recycling effort—it’s a blueprint for how young entrepreneurs can leverage creativity to solve pressing environmental issues. In a world grappling with textile waste, Lubkemann’s work demonstrates that solutions often lie in reimagining the overlooked.