By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

ECO-STYLE need not be an oxymoron. After all, ethical fashion is increasingly a la mode in the fashion capitals of the world, where fashion designers are challenged to create apparel using only fabrics that are renewable, reusable or generate less pollution than conventional material.
Taking a cue from the green vogue, the Guam Environmental Protection Agency is challenging local fashion designers and eco-artists, offering prizes for the winning outfits.
GEPA is staging a fashion show at the Island Pride Festival, one of the highlights of the Earth Week celebration from April 16 to 22.
Consider these possible materials for garments: newspapers, magazines, foam packing peanuts, paper towel rolls, aluminum cans, cardboard, old lampshades, curtains, burlap, tires, grocery bags, or wrapping paper. The possibilities are endless.
“Garments should be made entirely of reused materials. If you are using plastic, make sure that it has already been used for its intended purposes before making it into clothing,” GEPA said in a press release.
But using garbage bags purchased from a store, which have never been used, is cheating.
GEPA, along with partners in the Environmental Education Subcommittee of the Guam Watershed Planning Committee, also announced other upcoming contests for this year’s Earth Week celebration theme, “Protect Guam’s Watersheds.”
“This year’s Earth Week theme was chosen to help raise awareness about how fragile Guam’s watersheds are,” said Lorliee T. Crisostomo, acting administrator of GEPA. “Our community needs to proactively protect water sources from different types of pollution, including illegal dumping and erosion.”
Other competitions include the 3-D artwork contest, representing Guam’s watersheds.  GEPA said the artwork must be made primarily of recycled materials such as aluminum cans, paper or cardboard, plastic containers or glass bottles.
The contest is open to all students in grades 1 through 12 and entries must be submitted to the GEPA main office in Tiyan by 5 p.m. on March 30.
Schools also have the chance to compete for the Governor’s Green School Awards, which seeks to recognize student-led school beautification projects. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m., Friday, April 6, 2007.
GEPA also encourages high school students to join the Fishbowl 2007 competition on April 14.  Fishbowl is an academic challenge bowl-type competition focusing on the marine environment. The event is organized by the Marine Mania group from George Washington High School.
All schools are urged to compete for the Earth Week banner contest, reflecting the celebration’s theme.
Awards will be presented to the winners of the fashion show and contests at the Earth Week Island Pride Festival on April 21, at Gov. Joseph Flores Beach Park in Tumon.