Schools honour SA’s flag while promoting the recycling of waste
YOUNG fashionistas from 20 Mitchells Plain schools creatively turned waste materials into “couture” garments, some complete with extravagant headgear and footwear, as part of an annual fashion show to promote recycling among the youth.
Now in its second year, the Liberty Promenade Generation Green Recycled Fashion Show is a highlight for pupils and the community.
Sixty schools were invited to enter, and the first 20 that registered were allowed to compete recently, each represented by a design team of five pupils.
The competition’s theme is “Proudly South African” and the pupils had to design outfits that celebrate South Africa’s diverse and colourful heritage and traditions.
They had to incorporate the colours of the country’s flag – black, blue, gold, green, red and white – in their designs.
Explaining the purpose of the competition, Michelle Britton, centre manager at the mall says: “The best teacher is still experience and that’s the impetus.
“Through participating in the show, learners gain first-hand awareness of environmental issues and the need for recycling waste.
“As part of their briefing, we invited the youngsters to ‘shop’ for their materials at the centre’s waste management service called ‘Don’t Waste’.
“In this way they start appreciating the need to recycle, but in a fun, interactive way,” says Britton.
Phiesha van Niekerk, 15, and her teammates from Cedar High School of the Arts made a peplum dress from newspapers, plastic bags and cardboard.
“It took us about two weeks and two days to make the dress. We first had to do research on our different cultures, it was not easy painting the plastic with colours of the flag,” says the Grade 10 pupil.
But Phiesha says the challenge put her in her element as she plans to study fashion design after matric.
Soraya Lewis, 12, from Hyacinth Primary enjoyed taking part in the competition, but says designing and putting together their short-sleeved dress made of a black refuse bag and paper was hard work: “The dress fell apart the day before the event and we had to fix it up.”
The Grade 7 pupil says she enjoyed watching the models walk the runway and says it was exciting to learn about South Africa and its cultures: “I also learnt a lot about recycling and how to make beautiful things from waste.”
The judges scored the pupils based on design elements, construction and visual impact, overall presentation by the school and how well they interpreted the theme. The two winning schools will be announced on September 22 and each will receive a prize of R25 000. – Nontando Mposo