By Ella Bosman
On Thursday 25 September, the Neelsie became an unlikely runway as the Stellenbosch Environmental and Sustainability Society hosted its first Ecoslay Trashion Show. Forget New York or Milan, this catwalk was about Checkers Sixty60 bags and plastic reborn as high fashion.
Students strutted in garments made entirely from waste materials. Amongst the crowd favourites was the look titled “No strings attached” – a strapless top and skirt made from strings of trash bags. Shazia Matthews, a first-year BA (Humanities) student said, “It reminded me of an actual fashion show.”
Other outfits included a button-up shirt and pants made from trash bags in a punk “Prada” style, a Checkers paper bag dress with accents of pink paper, and a white top paired with a flowered skirt, which the presenter described as emulating “the real housewives of Stellenbosch”, amongst others.
The Neelsie was buzzing with energy that radiated through the outfits. Rosaria Ghasitha, a first-year BA (Humanities) student, described the atmosphere as “lively” and “exciting.” She added, “With the stress of uni, this was a nice event to look forward to so we could have some fun.”
The show was not simply a spectacle but carried a deeper message. This was conveyed through the final outfit which included a placard that read, “Put your waste in the right place. Join the journey to zero waste to landfill.” This reminded students not only of the importance of sustainability but also how it can be fun and fabulous.
