Fashion has been receiving some harsh criticism on its manufacturing and production due to the “fast fashion” market leaving a hearty carbon foot.
In light of celebrating Earth Day, West Acres Mall hosts Passion for Green Fashion to showcase designers from the Fargo-Moorhead area with fresh ideas using recyclable and “green” materials.
This year’s themes are Fargo Fashionista, Celebrity “Green” Carpet and Green Glamour. As looks are created and constructed from creative materials like old cosmetic bottles, clothing tags, newspaper and trash bags, it is clear how much we waste and throw away mindlessly.
Walking through West Acres, I always like to compile a little list of my favorite looks each year features. This year is no different as I struggle to find my top 5 on top of submitting my own.
5.) Bev Goff
As a Celebrity “Green” Carpet contender, Goff’s fringe cocktail dress is made from materials like a mesh laundry bag, aluminum foil and over 1,500 zip ties. A very classy and mindful silhouette, this look was an inspired piece from Katy Perry’s 2015 Grammy Awards dress.
The dress almost defies gravity with the way the zip ties are layered and placed upon the mesh bag lining and body. While the look is simple, it is clean, thoughtful and appears to show handiwork and attention to detail.
4.) Chantel Paquette
Paquette’s gown pulls in my attention for two reasons. Upon first glance, the dress has a beautiful skirt that spills all over the floor. But once you take a closer look, you realize it is constructed from magazine article clippings.
Paquette titles the dress “Be Aware and Support” and for good reason. As there are over 6,000 clippings used, Paquette uses it as a metaphor to represent our troops and their families.
3.) Subidhya Shrestha
This Green Glamour gown and designer was inspired by Mt. Everest and its vast power and presence.
“I am always fascinated by the mountains and the serene environment around it,” Shrestha said, describing her creation to West Acres.
Complete with a stunning, almost geometric headpiece, Shrestha used multiple forms of paper, duct tape and garbage bags to mimic the geographical wonder.
2.) Elly Solberg
Complete with “dreamscape” on the crop top, this top and bottom duo is constructed of tissue paper, wax paper and magazines.
Hopping on the Jennifer Lawrence bandwagon, Solberg expresses her love and appreciation for JLaw’s classy style.
On top of the celeb inspiration, this look is very runway and on-trend for Spring 2015. Solberg expresses great talent with her laying and painting skills as well.
1.) Becky Mitchell & Melanie Hanson
This dynamic duo takes “cocktail dress” to the next level by utilizing glass for its inspiration and main material.
“Glass takes 4,000 or more years to decompose, and we still throw enough glass bottles away to fill a skyscraper every month,” Mitchell and Hanson wrote to West Acres.
As a favorite silhouette, the girls went forth with a corset look paired off with a “tulle-skirt-lookalike” that is an inspirational prom or bridesmaid look.
All of these looks and designs are driven from talent and great inspiration, and you can check them out until the 30th at West Acres Mall. Voting is at westacres.com/contests.
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