Ericka Leigh, a 2015 PCGS graduate with an M.A. in Global Sustainability, has built a unique career at the intersection of sustainable fashion and agriculture. While at the Patel College of Global Sustainability, she focused on cotton research - learning about the environmental impacts of this major crop and its connection to industrial agriculture.
After graduating, Ericka became the director of Rosebud Continuum, an eco-village that partners with PCGS to provide graduates and students with a space to pursue research and explore their passions. At Rosebud, she continues her work in sustainable agriculture and fashion, translating her interests into hands-on, impactful research. Ericka started a research project in textile composting, experimenting for the past seven years on how people can take organic, natural fibers from clothes (cotton) and compost them back into the soil.
Leigh started this project in her backyard, composting fabric scraps from her small business, and expanded to community gardens and farms. Now, she found a base at Rosebud to conduct her experiments and a space for her research. Throughout her time in this research, Ericka stated, 鈥淚 have composted over 1,000 lbs of clothes鈥鈥檝e also composted over 5,000 lbs of food waste with the clothing and I have created over 5,000 pounds of soil in that process鈥�.
Textile composting addresses the growing problem of clothing waste. According to Ericka, 鈥淯p to 100 billion garments are created every year, far exceeding demand, with limited infrastructure for recycling.鈥� The alumna鈥檚 research demonstrates how organic clothing can be returned to the soil to feed plants, regenerate farms, and reduce environmental impact.
Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a PhD to scale her research, collaborate with other scientists, and explore questions such as the potential effects of clothing dyes in compost. By combining hands-on experimentation with academic research, Ericka is developing an innovative solution to one of the fashion industry鈥檚 most pressing sustainability challenges.
Volunteer opportunities at Rosebud are every Saturday. It allows students to get involved in research and gain hands-on experience with composting and sustainable farming. They will also contribute to projects that address the pressing challenge of clothing waste while supporting a greener future.