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Largo High students create couture from trash

By Theodora Aggeles, Times Correspondent
In print: Sunday, April 20, 2008

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Forget silk, chiffon and denim: This group of Largo High School students used salvaged bottle caps, soda cans, candy wrappers and parachute material to make their frocks.

They learned about sustainability, had fun and became fashionistas in the process, designing and creating runway looks for Largo's first Trashy Fashion: Recycled Fashion Show on Tuesday.

If Largo recycling coordinator Brenna Barrett has her way, audience members will never view trash the same way again.

While the show, at 7 p.m. at the Largo Cultural Center, will entertain, its ultimate goals are promoting recycling and educating future leaders on recycling's importance, Barrett said.

To show the beauty and versatility of recycled materials, models will strut down the runway in designs created from items many would discard.

"We thought this would be a fun way to promote recycling and involve high school and college students," Barrett said. "We're pleased at the positive responses from art teachers. The University of South Florida and Largo High were especially excited."

Melanie Sekora, Largo High art teacher, gave her students the option to enter as a class project.

"I teach art, but think it's important to have a whole-child approach to teaching," Sekora said. "Community opportunities should be embraced. We learn much more from experience than rote work, and everyone involved has been helpful and patient."

The class divided into groups of five, each with a designer and a model. Sekora said all students were resourceful and helpful, saving everything from construction paper scraps to bottle caps.

While most entries are women's clothes, one male student designed a business suit and briefcase from discarded Coke cans, said Nikki Pike, a USF art instructor.

Initially, students balked at the idea of the competition as art. But after searching for materials, they got exited, Pike said. Prize money was also an incentive, she added.

"They're starting to see that their ideas are worth something, which in the arts and America is a major problem," Pike said. "It started as a single idea, but has turned into an exciting project using plastic bags, discarded burlap coffee bags, and vinyl and billboard sign material, usually trashed each month."

Local businesspeople will be judges. First place wins $300 and five runnersup get $50 gift cards. All will vie for the Trashiest Designer title.

Largo blue bags go to all who sign a recycling pledge, and proceeds will be recycled into Largo High scholarships.