Staff Writer

The dress made the familiar ripping noise of delicate newspaper tearing as one model bent over to put on her shoes.

Seconds later, packing tape tossed between students stuck to the back of their fashionable creation

Rolls of tape, safety pins and binder clips helped three young designers keep their “green” outfits together during a March 25 fashion show at Kennebunk High School.

Members of the high school’s fashion club joined members of the “green” club to create a fashion show using only recycled materials such as old newspapers, including the Post.

“We wanted to make the statement that there are many other ways to incorporate green into your life,” said Hannah Rolland, president of the green club.

More than 100 students, parents and staff crammed into the high school chorus room to watch models stroll down a makeshift runway to showcase more than 20 different outfits.

The fashion show was part of a night at the high school when art students had a chance to show off their works of art – jewelry, busts of famous musicians including Madonna and Bob Dylan, and even giant sculptures of cupcakes.

One at a time, friends of the designers and fellow fashion club members proudly wore skirts made of recycled film negatives, tops made of manila folders and a dress made of old math homework.

Aspen Burke designed four dresses made of woven strips of newspaper. Burke said the most labor intensive dress was her one-shoulder design, which took her almost three days to make.

“I don’t sketch,” said Burke. Instead the young designer begins by weaving the strips together to see where the material takes her. Her concept during the fashion show was to dress her friends up like dolls.

“I thought of paper dolls because I was using paper,” Burke said.

Fay Hsieh-Lewis, another designer, was sick the week before the fashion show, but her designs made it on stage, thanks to her friends.

“I wasn’t here for dress rehearsal, but it’s all about doing this for her,” said Annaliese Lemieux-Kaplan. “Everyone looks so great.”

Lemieux-Kaplan wore a floor-length gown made of industrial size garbage bags that tied up the side.

Hsieh-Lewis’ other designs included a tutu made of the pages from a book and a white dress made of plastic bags.

Rolland said her passion for the environment emerged during a school project last year. Now, as a sophomore, she and a five other friends have started the schools green club. The small club has been trying to gain recognition with the hopes more people will realize it’s easy to be green.

“We thought it would be cool to do something to incorporate another club,” Rolland said.

She said the green club has replaced some light bulbs in the school to make them more energy efficient and also placed recycling bins around the school.

Rolland also participated in the runway show, walking not only as a model but reminding all onlookers that being environmentally conscious was what the fashion show was about.

And while many of the outfits designed are not ready to wear off a catwalk, Burke is thinking about wearing one for a very special occasion.

“My mom wanted me to wear it to prom,” Burke said.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.