Discarded blankets, tablecloths given a new life at Calgary fashion show

A fashion show held in Calgary on Saturday helped convert trash to treasure in an effort to raise awareness about reducing over consumption.

A fashion show held in Calgary on Saturday helped convert Trash2Treasure  in an effort to raise awareness about reducing overconsumption.

One dress was made out of a blanket, while another was fashioned from a dining table cloth.

The clothing on the catwalk at the show at cSPACE Marda Loop was one of kind.

All the fabric for the stunning pieces were donated by Goodwill and given a second life through creative hands.

“I think the dress feels really comfortable to start with,” said University of Calgary student and show model Glory Okeleke. “I think just the knowledge that this was made out of a quilt before and seeing how it can be used and designed into something that’s beautiful, is very special.”

Students from the University of Calgary and University of Alberta hosted the fashion show as a way to combine fashion with environmental education, while also encouraging a more co-conscious lifestyle.

“I think it’s possible to recycle things we already have and repurpose them,” said Trash2Treasure organizer Nidhi Kotikalapudi who is a co-founder of the Aquativity Project. “It’s OK to buy new things but always going back and reflecting, what do we have in our closet? Is there something we can swap with our friends?”

“Can we make use of what we have, even if we don’t know how to sew?” Kotikalapudi continued. “Can we pair the same thing with different jeans or skirts or shorts? And when we get bored of it, can we make it into something else?”