'Green Project Runway' Teaches Lessons About Art and Recycling

New York City fashion designers, watch out for wearable — and recyclable — works of art.

A group of girls on the North Fork will be walking the runway in their own designs in a special “Green Project Runway” on Saturday.

The girls are enrolled in a summer art program at The Old Town Art and Crafts Guild in Cutchogue where they turned recycled items into wearable works of art. Art teacher and artist Gayle Wagner was helping the girls put the finishing touches on their outfits and preparing for the runway show on Tuesday.

“A friend of mine teaches art in East Hampton and did a similar project, where her students make clothing out of newspaper. It sounded exciting,” Wagner said.

Wagner had taught many of the girls embroidery through Girl Scouts, and the girls were inspired by the idea of making clothing using recycled objects. Wagner said the girls were really excited when she mentioned the idea to them, which is based on the Project Runway television show.

Over the last five weeks, the girls made jewelry out of paper, headbands adorned with feathers and beads, shirts complete with ruffles, safety pins and fringe, and skirts made out of shopping bags. Guild members supplied feathers, buttons, safety pins, and beads to help with the project. The girls were excited to show off their complete outfits and prepare for the runway show.

Charlotte Keil was impressed with how her headband came out.

“I liked how you could make your own clothing out of arts and crafts stuff,” Keil said.

Maggie Bruer said the ideas for the shirts came from fashion magazines and she enjoyed measuring the details for her shirt. Her friend Jillian Orr said she did not really need the magazines—she used her imagination and added “this and that” as she was designing her pieces.

When asked if the girls had a favorite piece, the girls very diplomatically said they liked "everyone's equally."

Bob Kuhne, president of The Old Town Art and Crafts Guild, was pleased with how the project turned out.

“I can’t believe some of the outfits the girls came up with,” he said.

The guild offers free children’s arts and crafts programs during the summer months. Kuhne and Wagner teach most of the classes and Kuhne said providing the classes is the guild’s way of giving back to the community. This class in particular, said Kuhne, gives a positive lesson in making art.

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