Rubbish was rockin’ the runway this week as the ninth annual Bates Trashion Show took over the Gray Cage on Wednesday night. An after-Harvest-dinner tradition, the show, sponsored by the EcoReps, managed to draw attention away from the tasty spread of delicious desserts provided by Commons. (Quite an impressive feat actually – have you ever tried to stand between college students and a chocolate fountain?) In an innovative competition fit to be on Project Runway, Bates students are challenged to create fashionable looks out of recyclable materials.
The idea of the Trashion Show speaks to a larger trend of ecofashion, the growing design philosophy that focuses on producing clothes from sustainable materials and by methods that are not harmful to the environment. This type of environmentally friendly fashion had, for a long time, the stigma of being unflattering and unimaginative, but that has definitely turned around in recent years. Fashion with a conscience is totally in, thanks to the work of designers like Stella McCartney, who refuses to work with leather or fur, From Elsewhere, a fashion firm that uses surplus materials from the manufacturers who make the fabric for high-end companies, and Popomomo, short for “post-post modern movement,” a Los Angeles company that makes clothes locally out of organic fabric for the girl with the breezy SoCal style. And these companies are only the tip of the iceberg. In this day and age, clothes are no different than food; people want to know where they are from and how they are made.
(Stella McCartney)
(Livia Firth in From Elsewhere. Wear ecofashion, marry Mr. Darcy – definitely causation)
(Popomomo)
Then it’s no surprise that an event that combines creativity and environmental sustainability would feel at home at Bates. This year’s competition was judged by Associate Dean of Faculty Kirk Reed, alumni Annie Cravero and Hannah Mitchell and Professor Pamela Johnson of the Arts & Visual Culture department. Among the six competing outfits this year, here are the winners. *Drum roll please!*
Most Eco-Fabulous. Designer: Kevin Tejada, Model: Megumi Milla
The crowd started excitedly twittering the second this spectacular showstopper turned onto the runway. Delicate petals of aluminum foil, layered over what looked to be coffee filters, cascaded from a black-accented, sculpted bodice to a high-low skirt. The sweetheart neckline added to the elegant vibe of the dress, but was made edgier by the metallic silver material. How is it possible that designer Kevin Tejada made aluminum move like it was fabric, and does anyone know if this dress is available for Gala?
Most Creative. Designer: Environmental Coalition, Model: Maddie Lachevre
It’s the circle skirt trend – taken literally. The Environmental Coalition balanced an avant-garde, globular skirt with a simple woven bandeau. The skirt was undoubtedly the knock-out piece. Constructed from Commons’ recycled paper cups (R.I.P. mugs – you are missed), the honeycombed skirt sported a bold geometric pattern that would have looked right at home in the Winter 2015 collections. Plus, the whole monochromatic neutral color scheme is always timeless.
Most Fabulous – Tie. Designer, Bates Democrats, Model: Maitri Chittidi
A political statement and a dress rolled into one – the Bates Democrats’ entry was made entirely out of political mail from the midterm elections. Thank god someone finally put those flyers to good use – imagine how many trees are killed so that we can know the evil things going on behind Patti Gagne’s smile? The dress was a classic A-line with a straight across neckline, and the political ads meshed together to create a cool, graphic print. The bow in the hair was an adorable detail!
Most Fabulous – Tie. Future Designers/Models of Ecofashion
Every year, these three girls – Elena Ray Clothier, Raines Seeley and Bridget Kahan – compete and totally steal the show, and look completely adorable doing it. They know how to work the runway, which was especially impressive considering the plastic bags attached to their shoes (a pop of color that coordinated to their belt and hair accessories, of course.) Using what looks like plastic circles of some sort, they fashioned matching patterned mini-skirts and paired them with classic black and grey tops.
Honorable Mentions:
Designer: Sustainable Athletes, Model: Kurt Niiler
Designer: EcoReps, Model: Tommy Graziano
As they say, “One man’s trash is another woman’s stylish dress.” Oh – they don’t say that? I’m sure they will now.