Richie Ross
Staff Reporter
Has no one touched the overflowing recycling bin in your common room for over 3 months? Here’s a suggestion: empty the bin on the floor. Get yourself a pair of scissors, some twine, some tape, and some brain juice– then make a dress.
McDaniel students did just that in The Forum on March 25 at the “Reduce, Reuse, Re-fashion” show, which was presented as a collaboration between the Environmental Action Club and the Art Club.
Nine teams of two to five people were given 90 minutes to create fashionable ensembles out of less than fashionable recyclable materials. Each team was presented with a starter kit containing items such as plastic bags, cardboard, newspaper, glass and plastic bottles, and cans.
In just a short time, the basic materials were morphed into not only dresses, but hats, jewelry, and other runway “props.” Senior John Sullivan said his team “put a lot of time into thinking about the look before we actually started.” Sullivan was part of “Team Maternity,” whose model, sophomore Shelby Parenteau, took the runway show to the level of performance art. Her “underage pregnant prom queen” outfit, complete with racy props, won the “Audience Favorite” award by a landslide.
The imagination and ingenuity of the teams were on full display as the outfits went down the runway. The range of styles was astounding. Junior Erin Duffy’s ensemble, which won the “Best Overall” award, featured a bubble wrap skirt, cereal box vest, and an M&M cardboard belt. One team even created a full belly dancing outfit, complete with operating jingles, made out of soda can tabs. Senior Karly Ziegler’s dress, which won “Most Sophisticated,” was an impressively crafted cocktail dress made out of newspaper and colored cardboard. “I’d buy that off the rack,” said senior Jes Osrow, Art Club President and event organizer.
Osrow, an Arts Management major, was the principle organizer behind the event, but attributed its success to the collaborative spirit exhibited by all of the groups that were involved. “Having the teamwork made a huge difference. It became a campus event rather than a club event.”
Although Osrow is graduating this May, she has big plans for the future “Reduce, Reuse, Re-fashion.” Next year the organizers plan to reach out to Faculty, Staff, and other members of the McDaniel community to participate. “I’d love to see Mitch Alexander in a dress made out of plastic bags.” So would I, Jes. Wouldn’t you?