Recycled Couture Fashion Show
“Discarded to Divine”
26 April 2008
to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society
of San Francisco

Check out details of the auction and event at www.discardedtodivine.org

The Academy of Art University is hosting the Recycled Couture Fashion Show and Auction under the title “Discarded to Divine” of innovative pieces created by California fashion designers and students to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s programs for the poor and homeless on 26th April in San Francisco.

“Not only is our community leading the green movement but it is incredibly rich in design talent and creative thinking. This exciting event sheds light on some serious topics in a very fun way.” Wilkes Bashford, Honorary Chair of the event. Bashford was named by Esquire as “The Most Important Men’s Fashion Specialist in the Country.” He is one of California's fashion icons and well known for dressing the City’s political leaders and glitterati.

fig.: Designer Rebecca Howard FIDM
Photo by Teru Yoshida
Models, Hair, Makeup and Styling by Ford Models
Creative Direction by Janice Natchek

The designers: On 4 April the preview for the auction gave an insight into the richness of the presented ideas for accessories, gowns and garments made of recycled materials by Jessica McClintock, Colleen Quen, Cari Borja, Verrieres & Sako, Sara Shepherd, Nice Collective, Michael Boris, and the fashion design students from the Academy of Art University, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), and City College of San Francisco.

About the creations: The discarded items used include high-quality materials that have no use in the day-to-day survival of a homeless person, such as upholstery textiles, curtains, formal and bridesmaid dresses, and vintage fabrics. Highlights of fashions created for auction include a man’s tuxedo redesigned using elements of women’s clothing and inspired by Louise Nevelson's monochromatic sculpture; an evening jacket of matte and textured fabrics inspired by the Dale Chihuly glass art exhibit; a bustier and dress made from a different garments dyed the same color to create a contrast of textures and inspired by the photographic work of David Seymour; and a gown and man’s suit inspired by Fragonard's "Woman with a Parrot" made from 20 pairs of jeans.

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fig.: FIDM student Rebecca Howard's creative interpretation of the organic works of artist Dale Chihuly (check out installations "gardens and glass" chihuly.com)
transformed into a side-lacing corset. Rebecca hand dyed and finished 7 pairs of women's chinos into her 100% recycled design.