Upsewing Extravaganza Hāwera: incredible outfits made from repurposed materials
WINNER - STEAMPUNK Category Retro Revivie - Te Sartorial Contraption by Melanie Graham
Last month, Taranaki Timebank showcased incredible outfits made from repurposed materials in their fashion show: Upsewing Extravaganza.
Categories included Sustainable Fashion, Trash to Treasure, Steampunk, and Ko Puanga/Ko Matariki, with wearable art made from scrap fabrics, tablecloths, plastic bags, bubble wrap, net curtains and more!
Here are some of the entries and winners:
From left to right:
1. WINNER SUSTAINABLE FASHION Category - Lest We Forget by Carol Henderson with TTB coordinators Amy Skelton and Meryl Henry-Shou
2. WINNER Ko Puanga Ko Matariki Category - Debbie Robinson with Model Taiharuru Ratima Mahuika (Image by Maui Studios)
3. WINNER TRASH to TREASURE Category - Pretty in Pink by Carol Henderson
4. These two designs are from Alisha Harrop (right) of Hāwera. Red Ruby, modelled today by Anna (left). The hat includes remnants of a ripped-beyond-repair jacket, old lace and salvaged corset backing. The skirt was hand-made, out of a second-hand curtain that her grandmother rescued from a skip-bin. Well done Nana! The bolero and overskirt were handmade from a patchwork of second-hand fabric sourced from Upsewing Taranaki. The handmade accessories are also upcycled! More information here about these two designs.
5. Floral Boutique was created by Jaki Chalmers, Ararata. Floral Boutique is made from leftover floral wrapping which were destined for a rubbish bin. One thing Jaki can’t stand is throwing things out.
Ironically she can’t stand sewing either! So while she did hand sew the top, there was no machine sewing involved. If you look closely, you will see there were many staples used. More information here about this design.
6. Something definitely different! The intriguing NZ MOT Traffic Patrol Bicycle was designed and presented by Allan Davis. This entry brings together recycled bike parts, leather jackets, and ‘stolen’ leftovers from other projects! Allan says “I have learnt that steampunk is widely varied and not just 1800's based, and covers aspects of sci-fi, Victoriana, science, fashion, retro & modernism. With a ton of pure imagination thrown in, it is artistic in every way possible and full of attitude. Well done Allan!
7. Helene Fourie has had some fun creating her garment titled “A Bit of Sass.” Helen used a selection of items from local opp shops that cost a whopping $8 in total. Just as economical, was the 1hr 15mins it took to make A Bit of Sass. Something as simple as a scarf was used for the wide cuffs at the bottom of the pants and the make-shift top under the jacket. Some elastic here, and ribbon there, and voila! - this sassy ensemble took form. Beautiful mahi, Helene!
8. A Curtain Wedding’ is a stunning creation by Margie Furze. The garment was made from a ripped curtain and old t-shirt that could have easily been thrown out. Apart from some of the beads, the rest of her garment is upcycled.
Margie expresses her love of reusing with the statement ‘You don’t have to spend heaps to have a nice dress! Labels don’t matter!” Margie loves to make wedding dresses. Some materials at the Upsewing group caught her eye, and her imagination was ignited. A very different wedding dress was created. The sewing itself took approximately three hours but hand stitching the beads to the garment took many, many hours over two weeks. Lucas Films or Weta need you on staff Margie!
9. Carol Henderson’s Lady Lavinia McFarlane outfit is modeled by Linda Howson. It pays homage to Carole’s Scottish roots to the McFarlane clan. The top is made of an old sheet and curtains and the tulle is from an old garment she has recycled. The tartan is made of leftover cloth from home. The many zips at the waist were courtesy of the Upsewing programme. As soon as she saw them, she immediately thought they could be incorporated into her garment.
Carol has always wanted to make a pleated kilt, and did so with Lady Lavinia McFarlane, but with a modern twist. More information here about this design!
A total of 24 entries graced the runway and the event gathered a community of 120 attendees – so great to see such an interest in sustainable fashion, innovation and upsewing!
The Taranaki Timebank hosts regular upsewing workshops for anyone interested in starting their own projects, visit their website www.taranakitimebank.org or social media for more details (Facebook - Instagram).
