Margot Paul, an 8th grader at McGee School in Berlin, and Olivia Germano, a senior at Farmington High School were two of the over three dozen models at the second annual Trashion Fashion Show held at Artspace in Hartford on Saturday April 21.
Paul wore a dress created by eco-friendly designer Rachel DeCavage of Southington. The dress was made from plastic shopping bags and plant wrappers; a discarded pinwheel completed the back details of the outfit.
Paul said "Its amazing to see how different designers get inspired by things we throw away every day. They and the makeup and hair stylists make us look and feel like supermodels. Every outfit was different just like every model was different. It was like being on Project Runway. I can't wait to do it again next year!"
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This was Paul's second year modelling DeCavage's garments in the Trashion Fashion Show. Paul also modelled other repurposed fashions by DeCavage at Brazen Betties Birthday Celebration in downtown Torrington last year. Paul is also a dance student of Amy Merli, one of the coordinators of the Trashion Fashion Show.
Rachel DeCavage and Amy Merli were the event coordinators. They have been planning this Earth Day celebration for nearly a year. DeCavage is the Executive Director of the non-profit organization Evergreen Design Company, and recently opened a eco-inspired boutique on Main Street, Southington called Sugar Plum.
Merli is a professional dancer with CONNetic Dance Company, a dance instructor at Ballet Theatre Company in West Hartford, a yoga instructor at Downtown Yoga and Becoming Balanced in Hartford, as well as a Thai Yoga Massage therapist and student at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
Last year, the Trashion Fashion Show was held at the Middletown Artist Collaborative (MAC). Just a few days before this year's event, some executives at the XL Center got wind of the event, met with Merli and DeCavage, and became the sponsor for this year's show. They hope to be involved in next year's Trashion Fashion Show.
The event began with a yoga asana demonstration by Downtown Yoga of Hartford, then proceeded with live drum and keyboard accompaniment for the fashion show. Nearly two dozen vendors of repurposed, recycled, upcycled, and vintage products made for terrific shopping.
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Michele Fischer-Paul, Margot Paul's mother, volunteered at the Sustainable Living table, talking to guests about composting and growing your own foods. She also made and distributed free plant seedlings and "Seed Bombs" (fruit, vegetable, or flower seeds compressed in a nugget of manure and compost).
The crowd was young and old, eclectic, artistic, and very supportive of the true meaning of the event...Make Art Not Trash.
