For over an hour on Saturday night, the audience at the multi-purpose center in Susupe enjoyed a unique parade of the latest fashion that no one would guess from afar as sourced from trash.
From empty rice and feed sacks, foil, empty mineral water bottles, colorful candy wrappers, drinking straws, plastics, discarded stockings, ropes, bottle caps, empty soda cans, gloves — name it, and it was there.
These and other objects that should have made their way to the trash, were resurrected, given a new life and showcased in the form of fabulous gowns, jewelry, hair accessories, belts, attractive headdresses, footwear accessories, and more.
The show, dubbed “Image in Motion,” was put together not only to encourage and discover the talents of the students, but also to increase awareness about the environment.
Event coordinator Sharmaine Casquero said allowing students to directly participate in designing their own fashion and modeling their creations can make a bigger impact than lectures on environmental awareness in the classroom.
“It is different when the students are given free rein on creativity because they start to think and they will learn better this way,” Casquero said.
The CNMI is observing April as the Environmental Awareness Month, and the fashion show last Saturday night is just one of the series of events scheduled throughout the month in cooperation with the Division of Environmental Quality.
“We are very happy with the turnout of the event and the positive response of the students to the fashion show because this is an indication that more and more students are now becoming interested in environmental issues,” Casquero said.
The Image in Fashion female models were Jessica Flores, Kyla Atalig, Jennifer Flores, Patrecia Metran, Jeaneei Babauta, Jamie Camacho, Ritchelle Pizaro, and Shiley Sablan. The male models were Khen Mallari, Danielle Agulto, Lester Lapuz, Stacy Escueta, Vermon Santos, Joel Chan, and Michael Masongsong.
“We appreciate these students for participating in the show, and we hope to encourage all the others to do the same,” Casquero said.
The same student designers and models will be showcasing their creations at the show DEQ will be hosting at American Memorial Park on April 14.
DEQ Trashin’ Fashion event organizer Olivia Tebuteb earlier told the Variety that over 40 high school students from all the schools on Saipan would vie for attractive prizes.
The Trashin’ Fashion Show, which will start at 12 noon on Thursday, is aimed to inspire and instill in the students the concept of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Prizes at stake are $500, $300 and $200 for the first, second and third placers.
DEQ’s Leilani S. Deleon Guerrero works with Tebuteb in organizing event.
For more information, call Tebuteb or Deleon Guerrero at 664-8500.
