Students challenged to create couture from recycled items

Cajun Coast Tourism will present the inaugural Coastal Trash Couture Fashion Show, an event that combines fashion, environmental awareness and community engagement.
The event will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug.16, at the Bayou Vista Community Center.
Participant check-in begins at 11 a.m. The deadline to register is Friday, Aug. 7. All participants must complete an application and release form signed by a parent or guardian.
Supporters of the event include Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the St. Mary Parish School Board and the St. Mary Parish Library.
The Coastal Trash Couture Fashion Show invites students in grades 5 through 12 to design and model original fashion creations made primarily from recycled, reused or discarded materials.
The event encourages young artists and environmental advocates to transform everyday waste into wearable works of art while raising awareness about litter and environmental protection in Louisiana’s swamps and bayous.
Participants will compete in two age divisions, grades 5-8 and 9-12, and entries may be submitted individually or as a group of up to three designers, excluding the model. There is no cost to enter.
Prizes will be awarded in each age division, including a $200 gift card for first place, a $100 gift card for second place and a $50 gift card for third place. An additional $200 Best of Show prize will also be awarded among both age groups.
Designs must consist of at least 75% recycled or reused materials that would otherwise be discarded or recycled, including items such as newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans, plastic bags, cardboard, bottle caps, fabric scraps, crawfish sacks and other reusable materials.
Participants are encouraged to think creatively while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, craftsmanship, use of recyclable materials and an environmental factoid connected to the design, with emcees sharing submitted environmental facts during the fashion show to highlight conservation awareness and the impact of litter on Louisiana’s swamps and bayous.
For registration information or questions, contact Cajun Coast Tourism at 985-380-8224 or email info@cajuncoast.com.