Wagner High School students turn trash into fashion

Looks made from 90% recyclable material for a good cause

SAN ANTONIO – From a floor length dress made of cascading candy wrappers to and fun and flirty frock of corn husks, Wagner High School fashion design students took creativity to a whole new level Thursday during their second annual Recycle and Redesign Spring Fashion show.

"We're trying to teach our kids that you don't always have to get things brand new, especially with our economy nowadays," said fashion design teacher Laura Rohm.

Freshman Gabriela Ortega fashioned a dress entirely out corn husks to be unique. And her mission was accomplished, although full of months of challenges.

"It was really hard and I wanted to give up, but they didn't let me," she said.

Also hitting the runway Thursday were garments made from garbage bags, custom looks created out of comic strips and even models wearing magazines.

"Sewing on magazine and putting thread into it was really hard and making sure that it didn't fall apart," said sophomore designer Assiatou Diallo.

Some of the fashions had the crowd doing a double take asking "wait, what's that made of?"

"That's kind of half the fun," said Pete Law whose daughter created a collection for the show. "You see these kids come out and go ‘oh, that's duct tape?' or ‘that's a paper bag?' Its just incredible."

Perhaps the most challenging frock to create was a ball gown made out of cans of Big Red.

"That totally ate up my sewing machine," laughed Rohm. "Not sure I'm going to let a kid make something out of coke cans again."

Part of the proceeds from the show go to St. Jude Children's Research hospital as well as funding college scholarships for Wagner fashion students.

"Fashion can come from anywhere and you could use anything to make something look good. And I feel like that's what I learned," Diallo said.

And that lesson wasn't lost on parents either.

"Your mind knows no limit. You can just keep right on going," said Law. "You could make something out of anything really." 

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other recycled fashion pic


About the Author:

Myra Arthur is passionate about San Antonio and sharing its stories. She graduated high school in the Alamo City and always wanted to anchor and report in her hometown. Myra anchors KSAT News at 6:00 p.m. and hosts and reports for the streaming show, KSAT Explains. She joined KSAT in 2012 after anchoring and reporting in Waco and Corpus Christi.