April 25, 2011 Going Green by Wearing Green
Newspapers painted in vibrant colors, soda cans, bottle caps and labels from food jars might look like trash at first glance, but after hours of hard work and creativity, it gradually takes the shape of a long, flowing ball gown even a celebrity would die to wear.
The Truman as Residence Hall Association organized the first eco-friendly fashion show, Night on the Green Carpet, on April 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Ryle Hall main lounge.
Senior Yabrell Newman, the show’s organizer said the show aims to raise awareness about sustainability on campus and in the community and to support the efforts of going green.
“It is not a normal fashion show,” Newman said. “Basically you are using trash to make an outfit – newspapers, old boxes – anything you want besides actual fabric.”
He said the concept of a Green Fashion show is unique and he got the inspiration to do it when RHA attended a program by the Midwestern Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (MACURH) where another college presented a similar program.
He said anyone can apply to design outfits and those who are interested can also contribute by modeling or attending the event.
Freshman Ashley Jost said she is hoping to model in her roommate’s design.
“It is a really awesome thing,” Jost said. “I am really involved in environmental things on campus and I really want students’ eyes to be open to what we can be doing – fun things – to learn about awareness.”
She said it is a fun way to recycle and hopes that this would get the students thinking on more serious environmental issues.
“I am recycling those labels on those soda bottles,” Jost said. “My roommate is really creative and she has already got the design drawn up.”
She said as she shops she not only thinks about matching clothes but also pays attention to how the clothes are made and the sociological aspect of it.
Jost said because the fashion industry is huge, it would be great if it turned around to help the environment and make a positive impact.
“You are using stuff you already have instead of going to Wal-Mart and buying yards of fabric and spending all the time sewing it ,” Newman said. “Although it might be a little difficult to work with those material because they are not fabric, it could be more fun.”
He said RHA received a grant from MACURH to fund the show and Truman is one of the only seven schools in the country to receive the grant.
Truman Eco, a campus organization which promotes sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives, is helping with publicity and volunteers for the show.
Newman said because it is the first year that Truman is having such a show, he is expecting about 50 people to attend and have about 10 designers. Newman said this year the event mainly targets Truman students and he hopes the show continues annually at Truman.
David Gillette, Professor of Economics said that eco-friendly initiatives are becoming increasingly popular and some of these do help the environment while others don‘t.
He said one issue with the clothing industry going green is the fact that it has not caught on to be popular because many of these designs are not comfortable or practical for daily-wear. Even when it is, it is very expensive, he said.
“It depends on what the material are that you are putting into the fabric,” Gillette said. “If you are paying $400 for a $35 sweater just because it has eco-friendly material, then we are talking about a different kind of green. That is the money-green.”
Gillette said for the clothes industry there are also economic concerns regarding items like cotton.
He said most of the green products do well in the market, but the problems arise if the costs of green products are higher and have to be subsidized. Gillette said in the fashion world, there are shirts that are 100 percent cotton, and appear eco-friendly but because cotton is heavily subsidized in America, it is a huge waste of resources.
“You have to look at the big picture, and weigh the costs and benefits carefully,” Gillette said. “So that is one of the concerns I have about going green … There are lots of unintended consequences.”
By: Kathrine Flaate & Shihara Maduwage
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