by Casey Suglia, Intern A&E Reporter
The fourth annual Trash N Fashion show on Friday brought its unorthodox styles to Strand Beads on King Street, bringing together arts and sustainability.
The show featured 20 different outfits, all made in part with trash from different businesses in Boone and Watauga County. The designs were made, crafted and modeled by both Appalachian State University students and community member volunteers.
Trash from businesses such as Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Espresso News and Earth Fare were incorporated into designs.
“It is a great opportunity to be involved in the community in a creative and eco-friendly way,” said Kendra Warren, an Appalachian alumna and designer and model for the show. “It’s essential that we begin to reuse all of our materials so we can begin to live a less trash-filled life.”
The show was sponsored by Elkland Arts Center, which organizes the event every year. Elkland Arts Center is a nonprofit arts organization based in Todd.
“We bring people together under a shared vision and expand that vision out to the community,” said Lexie Danner, managing director of Elkland Arts Center.
The night served as a fundraiser for the Elkland Arts Center, raising money through a silent auction and ticket sales.
Danner said she thinks the show serves a noble purpose as a showcase for community art and sustainable ideals.
“Over the winter, all this trash accumulates all around our community, and when spring comes, you can see it all,” Danner said. “So let’s just take that and make something beautiful out of it.”
Model and junior art history major Emily Lawrence said that fashion shows like this are as much about the models walking the stage as they are about the time-consuming work of design.
“I’m not creative to make anything for myself, but I wanted to be an outlet for my friend and her art,” Lawrence said.
As part of Downtown Boone Development Association’s monthly Art Crawl, the fashion show had two different viewings throughout the night to prevent overcrowding while catering to a wide audience. Local rock duo Someday Rumble opened the show.
Story and Photo: Casy Suglia, Intern A&E Reporter