Vintage Bathing Suit Adorned With HDPE Plastic Detergent Bottle Pieces -- Photo By Sandrine Hahn
What's the easiest way to stand out in a crowd? For men, they may choose to go with a wild hair style, dabble in goatee territory or maybe even pump iron so they can amp up the wow-factor of their guns while women are generally inclined change hair colors at whim, test drive bold shades of makeup or wear a really impressive push-up bra. However, for both sexes, the most effective appearance-changing element that can be incorporated into their lives is fashion, plain and simple.
Obama Campaign Door Hanger-Covered 1950 Man's Winter Overcoat, First Photo By Nancy Judd, Second By Eliza Barclay
Of course clothing protects us from the elements, but it does so much more, enabling us to reflect our own unique personalities and sense of style. Our first instinct may be to head en masse to the shopping mall in order to keep on top of the trends, but anyone with a green frame of mind or crafty DIY leanings knows better. Nothing can quite match the originality and dynamic wearable art that emerges when creative minds tangle with repurposed materials.
Junk Mail Dress (Folded/Fanned Catalogs, Ads, Etc.) & Postage Stamp Covered Shoes, Photo By Nancy Judd
When we think of eco-fashion, the image of frumpy recycled plastic bag frocks leaps to the forefront, and while they're novel and "cute", very few of us would consider them wearable in the real world. On the other end of the spectrum, there have been really refined examples of fashion with a green sensibility like CO2-sensor-studded cocktail dresses, upcycled vintage t-shirt ball gowns and lacy solar panel-enhanced accessories, but they seem to smack of "special occasions" rather than what we'd consider to be regular wardrobe staples.
Hand-Cut & Sewn Aluminum Beverage Can Teardrop/Sequin Dress Made Out Of An Old Shower Curtain, Photo By Nancy Judd
That's what makes environmental educator and recycling fashion artisan Nancy Judd's line of eclectically elegant yet gotta-have-‘em garments so outstanding. For the past 11 years, she has been the brainchild behind Recycle Runway, which features decidedly distinctive couture outfits that your grandmother and her grandmother would have willingly spent an arm and a leg for, but instead of selling them to the public, Judd uses her sculptural creations as a way to demonstrate that what we perceive as waste is actually a viable resource.
Woven Cassette & VCR Tape "Faux Fur" Coat Lined With An Old Thrift Store Prom Dress, Photo By Sandrine Hahn
Some are fancy-schmancy, others are elegant ...but no matter which one you gaze out, they all boast 100% fully recyclable materials that required hundreds of hours to beat into their final impressive form. She's quick to admit that you wouldn't want to attempt sitting down in a chair while wearing any of her garments, but that's not her goal. Instead, she's hoping that when audiences across the country see her modeling her vast range of green-fashions at special eco-themed events -- outfits made with recycled Obama campaign fliers, glass bits and cassette tapes (among other diverse materials) -- they will think twice before ever discarding another easily recyclable aluminum can or plastic bag again.
Melted Plastic Bottle "Eco Spun" Fabric Dress Lined With A Recycled White Satin Prom Dress, Photo By Sandrine Hahn
The self-trained fashion designer says of her sustainable creations and overall educational message, "You can't be didactic or shaming or all gloom-and-doom, so you sneak in the back door" so that people actually sit up and take notice. For those who can't get enough of Ms. Judd's creations, here are a few more fashions that she's created along with descriptions of the materials and labor involved (courtesy of her website, Recycle Runway):
Target Fiesta!! Actually commissioned by the big-box store back in 2002, this fanciful frock features a skirt, top and arm bands made out of a recycled Target employee's shirt, accented with plastic Target bags. The head dress and jewelry are both made out of cardboard displays found throughout the store and the entire ensemble required 100 hours of labor to complete!
Shimmering Splendor! Approximately 12,000 pieces of crushed glass from the City of Albuquerque Recycling Program were individually glued to this 1930s style evening gown made from upholstery fabric remnants, requiring 400 hours to complete.
Tough as nails! Requiring 125 hours of labor to complete, this surprisingly classy get-up consists of hand-dyed canvas remnants (used to create the actual cocktail dress "canvas") studded with old rusty nails.
Beverage can beauty! Not surprisingly, Coca-Cola coughed up a few bucks to have Nancy Judd craft this elegant stunner which took 135 hours to complete. Crafting the dress out of canvas scraps, Judd then hand-cut and sewed soda can petal-vine-and-leaf pieces onto the garment as well as the matching purse and shoes. She also made coordinating Coke can earrings and a necklace.
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*** Those in the Phoenix, Arizona area can see Judd's recycled fashions up close and personal at the following event, running now through mid-summer: Recycle Runway: Eco Trash Couture On Display In Phoenix, Arizona's Sky Harbor Airport (February 13 - August 8, 2010)
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