So how does it work? Ariana used alginate, a biopolymer found in seaweed, and mixed it with natural ingredients like glycerin, water, and plant-based dyes. The result is a material that’s biodegradable, renewable, and non-toxic. No polluting factories. No microplastics left behind. Even better, seaweed farming helps capture carbon and support marine life.
From there, she experimented. Ariana spun the mixture into threads, tested it in crochet, dried it into translucent sheets, and shaped it into curves and textures. That means it can be used for fabrics, jewellery, and accessories—a new way to imagine what fashion can be.
This is exactly the kind of innovation the Télio Impact Award was created to celebrate. The prize recognizes student projects that rethink design with people and planet in mind, and that connect to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Ariana’s project checks all the boxes: it’s creative, it’s responsible, and it points toward a future where fashion doesn’t come at the planet’s expense.
For LaSalle College Vancouver, Ariana’s win shows what happens when students are encouraged to experiment and design with purpose. The Fashion Design program is built around that idea—helping students take bold ideas and turn them into real change.
Ariana’s story is proof that sustainable fashion isn’t just theory. It’s already happening, one student project at a time.
Feeling inspired?
Learn more about the Fashion Design programs at LaSalle College Vancouver.
