[Past Winners] 2007 | 2006

Entries to this category must be a complete outfit and be created from materials that have been previously used for another purpose.

When submitting to this category, please include a few lines about what the material was used for in its other life, before you turned it into a piece of wearable art. As it is likely that you are working with non-traditional materials for this category, please ensure that the materials are well washed and free of any residue that might cause irritation to a model’s skin. If your material of choice is abrasive or scratchy, we would strongly suggest creating some sort of undergarment to be worn with your piece. Most importantly, have fun with this category! Anything is a potential material for wearable art; the hardest part is always picking which idea to work with!

Bags to Riches
Mia Cinelli
Marquette, MI		 2009 Category Winner

Brown paper pages, thread, metal hooks/eyes

Brown paper grocery bags were designed with a function; they are used primarily to transport food from the store to the car. We expect little of them. As artists and designers in a world that is increasing “going green”, it is our duty to challenge these expectations, and begin to do more with less. As a designer, I had two problems to solve; how could I transform a recycled material from something mundane to something glamorous, and how could challenging the expectation of a material accomplish that? Bags to Riches took a recycled material, used brown paper bags, and re-designed their function. Instead of using them in their intended manner and carrying groceries, they became dress fabric, corset boning, seam-binding and laser-cut lace. By using a non-traditional material, I found properties in brown paper that were unique, beautiful, and sustainable.
Argonaut’s Ruin
Caitlin Legault /
Elizabeth Carr
Maple Ridge, BC
 2009 Runner Up

Plaster, glue, wire, beads, buttons, ornaments

Traditional aquatic folklore and nautical myths were the inspiration for our creation, “The Argonauts Ruin”. We envisioned the enchantresses depicted in these stories as seductive amphibious sirens. Much as we carefully selected and collected the materials to construct our garment, so to would these bewitching women of the sea. Our garment is constructed from an assortment of antique bobbles and trinkets found at local thrift stores, common household items, and our own cherished keepsakes. We used a variety of interesting techniques to construct our outfit. We molded a bust from plaster and cheesecloth. We used tea and stain our fabrics and encrusted the bust with an arrangement of pre-loved items. The skirt is made of vintage garments and window treatments. We experimented throughout the process using unconventional means and materials. Our creation is a visually stunning showcase of treasure that can be found at your local secondhand shops.