In honor of Earth Day, aspiring local designers will elevate recycled materials into high fashion when the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Studio 923 Art Club hosts its 3rd Annual Trash to Fashion Show on Friday, April 20, at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event, which has a suggested $5 ticket price.

This unique runway show will feature the fashion design skills of students and community members. Participants are hard at work on their creations, which are made exclusively from recycled materials. Studio 923 is hosting this non-traditional fashion show in order to raise awareness about the importance of recycling, how waste impacts the land, and caring for the world we inhabit.

“We’re encouraging participants and audience members alike to be inspired by the Earth and celebrate it by recycling and reusing materials that often linger longer than welcome,” Hyrum Benson, art club advisor and UMPI Assistant Professor of Art, said. “Our hope is that these fun, one-of-a-kind pieces serve as an important reminder of the duty we all have to take care of our planet.”

The night will feature many personal interpretations of connecting fashion design to Earth Day. Materials being used in this year’s entries include everything from food packaging to plastic bags. Fashion categories in this year’s event will include: avant-garde, formal wear, casual wear, and children’s wear. In addition, Studio 923 has encouraged all designers to truly embrace the process of the project by considering their carbon footprint.

“This is a fun event for all ages and, as the advisor of Studio 923, I know we would greatly appreciate as many people as possible joining us,” Benson said. “We hope to bring awareness and have fun all at the same time!”

For more information about this event, please contact Benson at 768-9441 or hyrum.benson@maine.edu.