Hanoi students win Startup Arena 2025 with sustainable fashion innovation
Student innovators from Hanoi are transforming environmental concerns into practical startup ideas, demonstrating how youth-led creativity can drive sustainable lifestyles and social responsibility.
THE HANOI TIMES — Students from Chu Van An High School for the Gifted clinched first prize at the nationwide Startup Arena 2025 competition on January 18, winning top honors with a sustainable fashion project aimed at Generation Z.
Five students from Chu Van An High School for the Gifted in Hanoi win first prize at the nationwide competition Startup Arena 2025. Photo: Nam Du/The Hanoi Times.
Pham Tram Anh, one of the team members, said the idea stemmed from concerns over the rise of “fast fashion” and the growing trend among young people to buy, discard, and replace clothing at a rapid pace, contributing to mounting fashion waste.
From this real-world problem, the students developed a green lifestyle concept centered on an intermediary digital platform that allows users to exchange, resell, and reuse pre-owned clothing.
A standout feature of the project is its application of artificial intelligence, which suggests creative outfit combinations from existing wardrobes, helping extend garment life cycles and reduce environmental impact.
“After the competition, we hope to turn the idea into a practical website or mobile application and gradually bring it to market, spreading the message of sustainable consumption among young people,” Anh said.
Meanwhile, second prize went to a team from Ung Hoa A High School, whose project repurposes spent coffee grounds into exfoliating soap.
Judges praised the idea as a practical and environmentally meaningful innovation, noting its ability to reuse waste materials while delivering real-world value. The project has received positive feedback and is seen as a promising green startup model.
Startup Arena 2025 focused on two timely themes: “Clean living” and “Civility and security on social media.”
Through these themes, organizers encouraged students to pursue entrepreneurship while contributing to sustainable community and social development.
In its inaugural year, the competition drew 490 students from 63 high schools across the country.
A total of 46 initiatives were presented, spanning areas such as clean living, environmental protection and the promotion of a safe and civilized online environment, with seven teams advancing to the final round.
At the final round, Nguyen Thi Thu Anh, a member of the National Council for Education and Human Resource Development, praised the high quality and strong enthusiasm of the competing teams.
She said the ideas were rooted in real-life issues, reflecting students’ ability to observe society, identify contemporary challenges, and propose feasible, solution-oriented innovations.
Anh added that these qualities reflect core competencies of 21st-century citizens, including creative thinking, collaboration, social responsibility, and a commitment to the common good.
According to the education specialist, Startup Arena 2025 serves as a launchpad for students to build confidence, sharpen skills, and further develop startup ideas in the years ahead.
The competition also reaffirmed the role of education in nurturing capable, responsible young citizens ready to contribute to sustainable social development.
