By: Olivia Schueller Follow @OliviaSchueller
Last Friday, students attended Earth Day festivities on the Mount Carmel campus quad and the Student Center Piazza.
The event hosted guest speakers as well as the annual Eco Fashion Show, where Quinnipiac students make outfits out of recycled materials. They then debut their creations on fellow students who choose to participate as models.
Leading up to the fashion show, preparation began months in advance.
“My job was to get a playlist together for the fashion show and I also tried to tackle the choreography during the fashion show,” Jayline Tapia, Eco Fashion Show coordinator said.
The audience at the Eco Fashion Show was welcomed and informed by a number of guest speakers. One of which being Professor of Fashion Design and Sustainability at Parsons School of Design, Timo Rissanen, who discussed how bad environmental habits are affecting our clothing.
“In certain parts of the world water is already becoming scarce and that has a direct impact on cotton farming,” Rissanen said.
Cotton farming directly impacts our clothing. 75 percent of men’s clothing and 40 percent of women’s clothing is made out of only cotton, according to Cotton Incorporated.
Good habits and environmental changes are possible to create. Ultimately, we have the largest impact on our environment.
“Each of us through fashion consumption has an impact. I don’t say for us to feel guilty about it, but I do want us to notice it and do start asking questions. What can I do differently to reduce my impact?” Rissanen said. “Everything has an impact. I think earth day is a great opportunity to just kinda pause and look at what you can take on differently this year. Even if it’s just buying a few less things or changing your laundry practices.”
The models took to the runway in ties, receipts, bags and other recycled goods found within closets and trashcans
Quinnipiac’s yearly event to raise awareness on necessary environmental change continues to be a success. Until next year, remember, reduce, reuse and recycle.
