In celebration of Earth Day, local artists and designers will transform recycled materials into innovative fashion pieces when the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Studio 923 Art Club hosts its 4th Annual Trash to Fashion Show on Monday, April 22, at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. The ticket price is $5 per person and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.
This unique runway show will feature the fashion design skills of students and community members. Participants are hard at work on their creations, which are made exclusively from recycled materials. This event is open to all artists, designers, students, and community members, and has a $5 per entry fee.
Studio 923 is hosting this non-traditional fashion show in order to raise awareness about the importance of recycling, how waste impacts the land, and caring for the world we inhabit. The club has encouraged all designers to truly embrace the process of the project by considering their carbon footprint.
“We’re encouraging participants and audience members alike to be inspired by the Earth and celebrate it by recycling and reusing materials that often linger longer than welcome,” Hyrum Benson, art club advisor and UMPI Assistant Professor of Art, said. “Our hope is that these fun, one-of-a-kind pieces serve as an important reminder of the duty we all have to take care of our planet.”
The night will feature runway designs made from recycled cans, bottles, plastic, cardboard, newspaper, and more. Fashion categories in this year’s event will include: avant-garde, formal wear, casual wear, children’s wear, and fashion accessories. The show will have three judges, who will be judging an individual’s work based on the use of materials, innovation, visual impact, construction, and durability.
“This is a fun event for all ages and, as the advisor of Studio 923, I know we would greatly appreciate as many people as possible joining us,” Benson said. “We hope to bring awareness and have lots of fashion-forward fun.”
For more information about this event, please contact Benson at 768-9441 or hyrum.benson@maine.edu.