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Funky Junk fashion struts the catwalk
18 August 2008
The Ecofest Funky Junk Fashion Show featured everything from knitted plastic bags to pull tab fasteners on the catwalk on Tuesday 12 August at Nelson College for Girls. With 21 entries from Waimea College, Motueka High School, Garin College, Nelson College for Girls and the Awesome Theatre, there were plenty of exciting entries for audience to vote for.
The evening started with a talk by Sonya Leusink-Sladen about sustainable fashion, including a reminder that in Victorian times most people had two or maybe three dresses each for summer and winter, which lasted them for years – and were then recycled for children’s clothes, cushions and eventually quilts, so sustainability was a normal part of everyday life.
Ecofest organiser Jo Reilly was also delighted by the standard of entries, and the enthusiastic crowd that came to watch. “Its great to see the sustainability message getting through to younger people – they are working through the ideas and coming up with some imaginative solutions for using waste products. This is a wonderful way to get the message across.”
Christine Johnston of Labels fashion store said that the standard of entries was increasing every year, and that she was blown away by the thought that had gone into the construction of some of the pieces. Stand out pieces were a suit made from old ties, a skirt constructed of chip packets layered over a washing basket, and a papier mache corset decorated with cut outs from aluminium cans. “We had items made from recycled paper, packing blankets, plastic bags, chicken wire and materials from construction sites,” she said.
The winner of the competition after audience voting was Nathanael Watts from Garin College (year 12) with Pinstripe Man, made from his grandfather’s ties. Nathanael said he had used 53 ties in the construction of the suit. “Its dedicated to my grandfather, he was a pretty sharp dresser,” he said.
Nathanael Watts, year 12 Garin College, recieves the Ecofest Funky Junk Fashion 2008 award from Christine Johnston of Labels Fashion. Fellow students look on.
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