Superhero fashionistas vie for big prizes

STUDENTS from 17 schools walking up and down a catwalk doesn’t sound like much to write home about, until you learn that what they’re wearing on that catwalk is recycled materials.

Liberty Promenade in Mitchells Plain is hosting its annual Generation Green Recycled Fashion Show, which would be an average showing of clothing if not for the creative twists they’ve thrown in. First, the outfits are all designed and modelled by the students; second, all outfits must incorporate at least one recycled material somewhere in their design; and third, every show incorporates an important social message.

Najeeba Small-Ebrahim, marketing manager at Liberty Promenade, said: “Each year we add a social message to the campaign that we believe is relevant to the pupils’ lives, and this year we have chosen to ‘Say no to bullying’.”

Previous shows conveyed similar messages dealing with various social issues, such as woman abuse, drugs and being proudly South African.

The theme they’re running with this year is superheroes; that is, every outfit must, in some way, resemble a superhero costume. Which, in a way, they will be. They are making clothes and saving the planet at the same time.

The show is to be hosted by TV personality and host of SABC2’s Hectic Nine 9, Laurian Nortje, and will feature celebrity fashion stylist Tracy Lee Rosalind, who is one of the judges for the event.

The audience will also be treated to a show by the dancing group Rebel Squad. The winning schools will earn a share of R50 000 in cash. For the primary and high schools in first place, there’s a prize pot of R20 000 each and, for the runnerup in third place, R10 000. That’s a lot of money for designing and modelling clothes. Seventeen schools from across the Mitchells Plain area will be vying for the prize, including the Mitchells Plain School of Skills, Cedar High School, Hyacinth Primary, and Mondale High School. “Liberty Promenade is incredibly proud to host and sponsor this event,” said Small-Ebrahim. “Each year the pupils surprise us with their breathtaking fashion designs and attention to detail, and this year we look forward to creative and resourceful designs.” The show is at the Liberty Promenade Shopping Centre in Mitchell’s Plain today from 12pm until 2.30pm. – Tyler Roodt