ECOLUTION, A FASHION REVOLUTION RESPECTING OUR PLANET
Kimberly Shash, Brett Robinson, Jennifer City
More than 250 guests celebrated Pittsburgh Earth Day the most fabulous way possible: Ecolution, A Fashion Revolution Respecting Our Planet. Think “Project Runway meets Pittsburgh,” as fashion guru, producer, and curator Richard Parsakian puts it. The evening of couture fashion, created by some of Pittsburgh’s most creative artists and designers, followed the theme of the four elements: earth, fire, water, and wind. One-of-a-kind pieces came together with repurposed items like bubble wrap, CDs, plastic bottles, magazines, and egg cartons, among others, and took down the runway at Fairmont Pittsburgh’s Grand Ballroom. Judges Natalie Bencivenga, Demeatria Boccella, Karin Legato, and Michael Onijynk scored artists on a scale of one to five regarding use of materials, creativity, and response to the element. Earning a perfect score from all four judges was 16-year-old Alana Yoffee, a student at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School. “She was inspired by the element ‘wind’ and created her work entirely from coffee filters,” says Parsakian. The other artists who made the top four were Bradford Mumpower, Katy Dement, and Faith-n-khaos. The entertaining evening was also supplemented by videos and choreography by The Staycee Pearl Dance Project and music by DJ Soy Sos. As owner of Eons Fashion Antique, Parsakian has been in the business of “going green” for over 30 years and looks to “help redefine how we look at fashion in the reuse of materials and design,” he says. “As with all events that bring attention to sustainability, focusing on reuse and repurposing will never go out of style.” — K.W.
Abbie Straughn, Ashley Pierce, AJ Dmochowski, Christina Maalouf, Emily Crist
PHOTOGRAPHS BY SARAH COLLINS
Dr. Marc Liang, Arnold Zegarelli
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Ronda Zegarelli, Larry Rapaport
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5/13/16 5:27 PM