‘Trashion’ makes high fashion out of recyclables

Young models representing various schools on island walked the runway in original designs made of recyclable materials for the Trash-In Fashion Show or “Trashion” at the Saipan Grand Hotel lobby last April 14.

The event, which coincided with the hotel’s weekly food fair, was held in collaboration with the Division of Environmental Quality and the non-profit group Mariana Islands Nature Alliance to support the Environmental Awareness Month celebration this April.

Saturday’s show featured 24 models wearing outfits created by designers Nhemie Cayao and Remy Rebellon. The two used materials such as empty rice sacks, cigarette foils, trash bags, chicken buckets, hotel bed pads and pillows, old electrical wires, soda can tabs, chicken feathers, soap packaging, phone directory, and bubble wrap in putting together fashionable ensembles.

Trashion showed that anyone can make something usable out of “re-usables,” according to DEQ’s Olivia Tebuteb who pointed out that the event served as an educational avenue for the youth of the CNMI “to explore the sustainable eco-trends in recycling.”

“This year, the Trash-In Fashion Show aims at instilling the importance of the 4Rs: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Respect” philosophy throughout our local community and for tomorrow’s leaders,” added Tebuteb.

Model Rosemarie Liangco, an 11th grader at Marianas High School, said taking part in the event was “really fun” because of all the “cool things” she has learned.

“You can do a lot of things out of normal things that people would just throw away. That’s always good, learning ways to help our environment,” the 17-year-old Liangco told Saipan Tribune.

JM Solomon, a sophomore at MHS, said that besides knowing more about the importance of recycling, he also got to know himself better.

“It taught me how to trust and be proud of myself,” said Solomon, 16.

Event organizer Sharmaine Casquero said the fashion show took about two months of preparation. “We wanted to bring awareness to the students of the CNMI that we have to take good care of our Mother Earth and we achieved that tonight,” Casquero told Saipan Tribune.

Both Casquero and Tebuteb said that Trashion was a preview to a bigger and better fashion show that will be held on Thursday, from 7pm to 9pm at the American Memorial Park Amphitheater. This event will culminate DEQ’s three-day Environmental Expo from April 17 to 19.