Alchemy Initiative Making Sustainable Sexy With Fashion Show
 Creating "up-cycled" fashion for tonight's Earth Day fashion show. |
This is Alchemy's third annual Earth Day celebration and second fashion show.
According to executive director Jessica Conzo, the event is in keeping with the organization's mission of responsibility and sustainability.
"Alchemy Initiative promotes and educates on creativity and sustainability," Conzo said. "This fashion show/clothes swap concept is a beautiful melding of both creativity and sustainability. This year we wanted to expand on the success of last year's event. We decided to use the theme of 'up-cycling' and get local and regional designers involved and create new pieces from the donated clothing. The up-cycled creations really run the gamut – from aprons and dresses to book purses and lamps. The items are truly wearable art (and home furnishings) and will all be available for bidding at the silent auction."
Melding creativity and sustainability presented a bit of a challenge to Wendy Darling, the show's model coordinator and fashion designer. She said that fashion is easy, so is sustainability, but the partnership, especially using donated goods, can be a little awkward.
"It was a little difficult in finding a balance between up-cycle and fashion, only because many of the items were for the home, or for children, leaving a small gap for the fashion end," she said. "So we have models wearing the up-cycle garments, carrying the up-cycle home goods and baby items as well as strutting some famous designer pieces. The runway will be rocking with style and whimsy. There is no certain theme except up-cycling and creating something wonderful out of something that may have been tossed away. It is always a great experience to come together for each other, celebrating Earth Day and assisting in raising consciousness in a way that is so much fun and hopefully spreads the feeling of hope, life and love for all."
Spreading the love is easier said than done, especially in a converted church. For production manager Michael Vincent Bushy, transforming Alchemy Initiative into a "multi-functional space" that includes a runway show, concessions stand, dance hall and silent auction space presented its challenges.
"Using lighting and furniture placement, we turned one giant space into many," he said. "Still, the event is focused around fashion, so the runway has to hold point-of-pride among all the other elements. Last year, the models came from the back (logistically, it was the only option). The space is all cleared now, so I was bent on bringing the runway out from the front of the church. It not only feels natural, but creates a more dramatic space overall.
"I've always been of the "waste not, want not" camp, so the idea of using the elements at hand to create an aesthetic seemed natural. I was told I had a budget, but I never asked after it, because with the exception of Trevor Hotchkin's (of Berkshire Shenanigans) lighting (worth every penny), I was determined not to spend any money on the physical plant. But that was easy – I had an old church and a city full of stuff to play with," said Bushy.
Making the "good ol' three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle–" look sexy may have had its challenges, but Conzo is confident that the results will be spectacular thanks to a supportive community that understands the importance of Earth Day in the Berkshires.
"Alchemy Initiative has been embraced by the community. The clothes were donated by people all over the county. We had a two-month long clothes drive and received some beautiful items," she said. "The up-cycled pieces will be available at the silent auction (just after the fashion show) and the other clothes (including some designer pieces) will be for sale at the clothes swap the following day from 1 to 4 p.m. There is just a $2 admission for the clothes swap and then clothes are $5 per pound. I think when industries change the way they are doing things, it is often a reaction to the trend they see with their consumers. [The fashion industry] noticed that people have less money to spend, that second-hand stores are hip and that sustainability is a buzz word."
Admission to the fashion show is $20. For more information, go to Alchemy Initiative's Facebook page.
