Cranbrook students crawled the catwalk in trend-setting high style on April 30 at the annual Trash Fashion Show.
The annual event brings Mount Baker Secondary School art students together to show off hand-made clothing made from recycled and reused materials. 100 students participated in the event this year at the Key City Theatre, showing off 43 designs. While there were fewer outfits than previous years, more people teamed up and did group designs.
Finn McBurney and Kenny Rohrig MCed the event, and Jude Pierre gave a land acknowledgement. Teacher Evan Bueckert led a team of DJs back stage.
Event organizer Cheryl Wilkinson said the event is really all about celebrating community art.
"There's so much joy when we're doing it together. That's what I look forward to. Just us having fun, looking at art," she said.
Students made a statement with fashion that was inspired by things that are important to them — family, fantasy, travel and the environment. They used a wide range of materials including scrap fabric, cardboard, newspaper, plastic labels, beer bottles, book pages and playing cards.
Wilkinson said the students' ideas have changed noticeably from when the event first started. They've broadened their horizons and become more creative with their ideas.
"I'd say it's almost unique to use recyclable things. We can't find grocery bags anymore. That used to be half the runway 10 years ago. Upcycled clothing has taken over," she said.
Evelyn Lonergan and Hailey Gawryluk designed a stunning blue dress, modeled by Emma Gawryluk, that represents personal growth and new beginnings. The dress is made to look like water, with a blue skirt made of scrap fabric and a bodice made from the inside of a couch cushion, blue garbage bags and hot glue. Emma wore sparkly hair spray to make her hair look wet and carried an umbrella.
"It's supposed to represent growth, how everyone goes through dark times. It's drenched and it's more dark looking and it transitions into something more beautiful. It's growth," said Lonergan.
Olivia Boehmer created a sea-inspired dress modeled by her sister Luana, with thrifted jewellery, a bodice adorned in sea shells, and netting on the skirt. The dress represents the beauty of the ocean and the harm that is caused by pollution.
"The oceans are really polluted. It's really harmful for all of the sea life," said Olivia. "I did some research into what is most harmful. Any thick plastics are really bad or anything with loops that can get caught on different sea creatures. The ocean is so beautiful, but because of everything that we do, it makes it a little less."
Proceeds from ticket sales from the event will go towards a scholarship fund for a grade 12 student who is pursuing visual arts or fashion after graduation.
