Looking Good, Doing Good

Fashion Show And Performance Raise Environmental Awareness

Kim Primicerio

Issue date: 4/23/08
Section: Focus

Members of Lawless Coast at the Eco Fashion Show last night. Lawless Coast has been performing for two and a half years. Media Credit: Adam Bickford

The celebrations seen on Fairfield Way yesterday afternoon continued into the evening hours as Earth Day festivities persisted across campus. UConn's office of environmental policy, Eco-Husky, continued the Earth Day celebration into the night with a fashion show and concert on Tuesday.

Eco-Husky members strutted their stuff as they modeled several fashions across the stage in the Student Union Ballroom. The first group of models showed off the clothes they had purchased at the Salvation Army in Willimantic.

"Salvation Army is eco-friendly," said one of the commentators of the fashion show Fiona Stewart, a 2nd-semester undecided major. "It's reusing clothing and cutting down on production costs."

The next group of models wore hats, T-shirts and other various garments from the company Yawn Mower. Yawn Mower makes T-shirts out of 100 percent organic cotton. Several students walked on the runway, showing off Yawn Mower T-shirts with a wide range of messages on them. One student's tee said "Not a fur coat" while a hat was embroidered with "Instinct Intact." Another T-shirt had "The hole in the ozone is directly related to the hole in your heard" sprawled across it.

In addition to T-shirts, sneakers were also modeled by students. The sneakers, which resembled Chuck-Taylors, were put out by Autonomie Project Inc., and are made out materials that are 100 percent vegan and eco-friendly.

Commentator Catherine Pomposi, a 4th-semester statistics and environmental science double major, introduced handbags made by Cara Taylor. The handbags Pomposi showcased are made out of recycled grocery bags. In order to make these bags, the designer spins bags into yarn and then makes the hand bag. The purses came in a variety of bright colors.

"Who knew you could be so trendy and eco-friendly at the same time," said Shahril Ghazail, a 2nd-semester undecided major.

The fashion show was a success according to 8th-semester resource economics major Alissa Becker, who supervised the event and couldn't have asked for anything better. Becker said Eco-Husky ran events through out the day.

"The fashion show raises awareness," Stewart said. "Young people want to look good but they can look good and still be eco-friendly."

Becker said it was the first time Eco-Husky put on the fashion show, and they'll do it again next year.

"A lot of people might not have known you could get such cool threads at places like the Salvation Army," said Eco-Husky member and model Edyta Tereda, a 2nd-semester psychology and English double major.

After students showed off their eco-friendly fashions, the band Lawless Coast began to set up their instruments on stage. The band played a loud and lively set of what drummer Brendan Galvin, 7th-semester English major, referred to as saloon rock.

"We're pioneers of the genre," Galvin said.

The Lawless Coast has performed for two and half years and is comprised of five band members, all of whom attend UConn.

The Lawless Coast covered the popular song "Peace Frog" originally performed by the The Doors in a faster and upbeat tempo. Galvin said the band usually plays a set that is 80 percent original songs and 20 percent covers. Although the bands' microphones were not cooperating through out some of the concert.

The Lawless Coast's passion and liveliness showed through in their performance. The band had several students up on their feet dancing to their funky beats.

Band member Drew Socttile, a 7th-semester English major, said the band just recorded and released their self-titled EP. The CD consists of nine songs that the band put out themselves.

Hostage Calm performed after The Lawless Coast. The band's punk rock flare switched things up after the saloon rockers. The hardcore performers were very energetic according to Chris Wiegel a 2nd-semester undecided major.

"They're intense," Tereda said.

Eco-Husky was happy with the outcome of the day's events. Pomposi said next year the group will start earlier trying to get venders and groups to come show off their eco-friendly products. The organization wants an even bigger turn out next year.



Contact Kim Primicerio at

Kimberly.Primicerio@UConn.edu