Oct 10, 2024

Houston Airports joins Southwest Airlines in celebrating the airline's 10th anniversary of its Repurpose with Purpose program. This year, Southwest Airlines is partnering with Magpies & Peacocks, a 501(c)(3) non-profit design house, for a groundbreaking fashion exhibition at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), the first and only 5-star Skytrax-rated airport in North America. The exhibition, titled Runway R&R (Rest & Relaxation), showcases the transformation of aircraft seat leather into high-fashion pieces, celebrating the partnership's commitment to sustainability and creative reuse. It's the first-ever fashion exhibit for Houston Airports.

“Hobby Airport is proud to be home to the World's Best Airport Arts Program, and this latest exhibition with Magpies & Peacocks and Southwest Airlines is a perfect example of how thoughtful collaborations elevate the passenger experience," said Alton DuLaney, Curator of Public and Cultural Arts for Houston Airports. "By showcasing sustainable fashion, we encourage our airport guests to pause, reflect and engage with the deeper message of creativity, reuse and environmental stewardship that these incredible artists aim to convey. Houston Airports continues to set itself apart by creating meaningful spaces that inspire and connect travelers to important conversations through art.”

 This exhibit was spearheaded by DuLaney and Ana Schwager, Senior Corporate Responsibility Program Manager at Southwest Airlines. “Southwest is excited to partner with Magpies & Peacocks and Hobby Airport to showcase the phenomenal artistry of Magpies & Peacocks,” said Schwager. “We love seeing our aircraft seat leather transformed into beautiful works of art after its time on our aircraft has come to an end – all to benefit the communities we serve.”

Airport guests can enjoy two exhibits strategically located in the Hobby Airport Ticketing Lobby and the Central Concourse. The exhibits represent the fusion of art, fashion and sustainability in an aviation setting.

 "Creative collaboration is essential to driving sustainability, and our partnership with Southwest Airlines and Hobby Airport beautifully showcases how upcycling can inspire creativity, reduce waste and create meaningful change," said Sarah-Jayne, Founder and Creative Director of Magpies & Peacocks. "We are excited to highlight our shared commitment to circularity and purposeful design through this innovative collaboration."

Repurpose with Purpose is Southwest Airlines’ award-winning global environmental sustainability initiative that upcycles aircraft seat leather, helping keep waste out of landfills. The program was founded in 2014 after Southwest updated its seat design, resulting in 43 acres of no longer needed aircraft seat leather. The updated seat design included lighter leather, which decreased the weight of each aircraft by up to 600 pounds, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency of each flight. Today, the program utilizes leather acquired through ongoing aircraft renovations and retirements. 

 Since 2014, Southwest has donated more than $2 million in grants and 1.4 million pounds of leather to provide employment, skills training and other social benefits for communities. Magpies & Peacocks, known for its dedication to sustainable fashion, has had designs featured in major brand and runway activations, including the New York Fashion Week Blue Jacket Fashion Show, SXSW 2024 in collaboration with Maison Perrier and the James Beard Foundation. 

The Runway R&R Exhibit at Hobby Airport will be an opportunity for thousands of travelers to view seven unique, innovative, and eco-conscious fashion designs through October 2025.

About Magpies & Peacocks | Magpies & Peacocks, Inc. is the nation’s only 501(c)3 non-profit design house dedicated to the collection and sustainable reuse of post-consumer clothing, scrap textiles and accessories diverted from landfill – in order to disrupt the cycle of waste in the fashion industry and mitigate its enormous environmental and social impact. The organization works with an in-house team of designers, makers, and artists to create unique up-cycled products, offer skill-building and sustainability education, and incubate circular fashion innovation. Magpies & Peacocks model rests on four pillars: Collaborate, Create, Educate and Invest. The non-profit also provides workforce development training for survivors of trauma, including human trafficking, domestic violence, veterans, and individuals overcoming housing insecurity + re-entry to work, empowering them with life skills and job opportunities via their MAKR Collective initiative. Learn more by visiting Magpiesandpeacocks.org.

About Southwest Airlines Co. | Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world’s most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 117 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its more than 74,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 20504. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/planet.

About William P. Hobby Airport | William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is part of the Houston Airport System, the Department of Aviation for the City of Houston. In 2023, Hobby Airport welcomed 14 million passengers. The airport works with seven airlines to connect passengers to more than 80 destinations. In 2022, Skytrax rated Hobby Airport as the first 5-star airport in North America.HOU has maintained that title for three consecutive years and remains the only 5-star Skytrax airport in North America. Houston Airports is home to the World’s Best Airport Art program, which features one of the largest public art collections in the aviation industry. Houston Airports positions Houston as the international passenger and cargo gateway to the South-Central United States and is a primary gateway to Latin America.