Third annual Sustainable Strut showcases new and experienced designers

On Feb. 14, student fashion designers of varying experience levels showcased new, unique designs at the annual Sustainable Strut, a fashion show at the Ackland Art Museum.

For first-year Jasmine Harris, Sustainable Strut also gave her a chance to flex her fashion designing muscles. Harris runs her own sustainable fashion small business, Uneek Designs. She upcycles and makes pieces that are, well, unique.

“It’s within the name,” Harris said. “Creating unique garments out of unique materials, or making garments in unique ways that aren’t traditional.”

The Sustainable Strut was organized by UNC Student Government’s Department of Environmental Affairs. It aimed to highlight the importance of sustainable fashion while also giving student designers complete creative freedom. Designers made pieces ranging from element-themed collections to Valentine’s-inspired designs. 

Harris said she hopes to find a way to give back to the community with her designs one day, but for now, she’ll continue making and promoting her unique items. One item she is most proud of is a hoodie repurposed from a crocheted quilt, she said. 

“[My designs] are a way for people to express themselves,” Harris said. “And it’s one of one. For the most part, with everything I make, there’s not going to be a second person walking around with that.”

Ella Larson, a rising junior studying environmental health sciences, runs @green.child.clothing on Instagram, a page that documents the sustainable clothing items they design. They said they’ve been making clothes since their early teens. 

“I just started making things out of fabric my grandma had laying around or things I would find at the thrift store,” Larson said. “Like ‘oh, this could be something, but it’s really not right now.’ I guess gradually that kind of morphed into making bigger projects.”

For some other designers, Sustainable Strut gave them the chance to design their own clothing for the first time.

Nea Strawn, a recent UNC graduate with a degree in environmental studies, has long had a passion for sustainable fashion and sewing, but had never designed her own clothes before this year’s event. For her design, she collected pieces from a scrap exchange and made clothing out of them. 

“I really liked the concept of the Sustainable Strut,” Strawn said. “This idea of using what’s already there. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”

Abby Coursey, a junior at UNC studying environmental studies, has been a stage manager for Sustainable Strut for the past two years, but this was her first year as a designer. She themed her collection around Valentine’s Day, featuring lots of crocheted pink and frills. 

“I was immediately really intrigued by the fashion aspects like thrifting,” Coursey said. “And creating your own clothes is always something that’s been really interesting to me. And so I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Not only because it focused on sustainability, but also because there was a creative aspect and a really big community aspect.”

At the core of all of these designers’ work lies a passion for sustainability. 

Coursey said she thinks the word ‘sustainability’ has become a buzzword as of late, but to her, caring for future generations is its main premise. She said it’s just about having awareness of how you affect the planet and those around you. 

Strawn said she thinks people find themselves intimidated by the concept of a sustainable lifestyle because it’s often marketed as very all-or-nothing. She disagrees with that sentiment.

“I think sustainability can be accessible and it doesn’t need to be this grand notion of a life-changing occurrence,” Strawn said. “It can just be a small thing during your day, like walking instead of driving.”

For students looking to try their hand at designing fashion, Larson said they recommend visiting the BeAM Makerspace on campus. The space provides students interested in creating their own clothing with sewing machines and sample materials, especially for those not interested in the presentational aspect of the strut. 

“Have fun with it,” Harris said. “It doesn’t have to be this long drawn-out thing. You can continue to increase your wardrobe or your style or change things.”

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