‘TRASHION’ STATEMENT
Show raises awareness about keeping beaches clean
One man’s flotsam is another’s fashion — as evidenced by the repurposed beach finds rocking the runway at last night’s second annual Cisco Trashion Show on Nantucket, where models decked out in recyclable materials wowed the crowd to raise awareness about protecting the coastline.
“The best part about the event is how many people make this possible,” Nantucket blACKbook founder Holly Finigan told the Herald. “There are about 75 people who made this come together, so it’s become a really wonderful community event.”
The Trashion Show, presented by The Nantucket blACKbook, was held at Cisco Brewers Nantucket and featured 22 local models who walked the runway in outrageous handmade getups crafted out of everything from Solo cups, wristbands and straws to magazines, beach toys and balloons.
Proceeds from the show benefitted the Nantucket-based nonprofit ACK Clean Team, which works to remove trash and debris from the island’s shoreline.
Former Patriots cheerleader and Dirty Water Media reporter Camille Kostek, who wore a magazine skirt, was among the models taking part.
Finigan said the idea for the show was hatched in 2015, when island officials launched an awareness campaign centered on the hundreds of pounds of litter and debris that was being picked up after Fourth of July celebrations on Nobadeer Beach.
“It wasn’t a good look for our island,” Finigan said, adding that the fashion show is preceded by a beach cleanup.
“On July 5 we all meet at Cisco for a big beach clean and then the next day we have the trashion show,” Finigan said.
“The great news about this year is that last year we had a lot of trash to pick up but this year the beaches were so clean that we were hardly filling half of our garbage bags. It shows people are recognizing what to do with their trash in order to protect the environment.”