In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Queens Center gave three students a challenge – create a piece of fashion using recycled materials in just one hour.
The participants were Amanda Ramcharitar, a student at the Wood Tobe Coburn School; Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science student Tessa Lee-Thomas; and Dylan Robin, a student at the High School of Art & Design.
For the challenge, called “Recycle the Runway,” the students brought in a variety of materials, including tissue paper, newspapers, garbage bags and cereal boxes, to create their dresses. After the hour was up, judges took a look at their work to select a winner.
The first place prize, which included a $500 mall gift certificate and a gift from JCPenney, went to Robin, a 17-year-old Rosedale resident. When she found out she won, Robin told the judges, “Thank you so much for seeing what I wanted to do and accepting it.”
Robin’s dress was made out of black and white trash bags and she used newspaper to make details, including a shoulder strap. She said that she was proud of what she did and she felt “really good” after her win.
According to Queens Center Senior Manager of Marketing Dawn Simon, who was a judge, it was Robin’s originality that earned her first place, although Simon noted it was a close competition.
The second place prize of a $200 gift certificate went to Ramcharitar and the third place prize of a $100 gift certificate went to Lee-Thomas. Both also received a gift from JCPenney.
“I thought it was amazing,” Simon said of the work the three did. “I was very impressed with their creativity, their originality and the fact they were able to create these dresses in under one hour.”
During the event, which was moderated by Queens Courier Publisher Victoria Schneps-Yunis, Queens Center retailers such as H&M, JCPenney and Banana Republic showed some of their fashions.
Anastasia Diaz, who works at Children’s Place, also showed a dress she made out of magazines. It was created as part of the mall’s challenge to get retailers involved in the event, and won Diaz a $500 gift card for “Fashion of the Year.”
Simon said that she hopes Recycle the Runway will become an annual event at Queens Center.
“I think we really brought attention to Earth Day and how we can be supportive in a fun, positive way.”
