The building was packed with Pensacola’s finest at downtown Seville Quarter for Couture for a Cause. It was a rare chance for designers and models to strut their stuff as they went “green” down the runway.
Couture for a Cause was presented with models showcasing nifty wearables from recycled items. Usual components that are likely to be thrown away were made into fantastic designs like no other. The unique items were displayed from simple casual garments such as model Erin’s “Cotton Candy” to the most intricate and elaborate themes such as PJC Professor Jen Erhardt’s “Alumina” — an updated version of the Ancient Goddess Lucia — made of recycled fish lines, soda cans, and much more. Erhardt won “most outrageous” costume.
Proceeds from various sponsors, including gold sponsor Levin Papantonio, P.A. will help aid The ZOO Northwest Florida. Supplementing the fashion show was a silent auction for prizes. Donations to the ZOO fund a wide array of opportunities such as ZOOcamp, a summer program for schoolchildren to have the rare experience of working at a wildlife preserve.
The show’s master of ceremonies was the energetic Dana Cervantes from the Morning Show on Cat Country. The judges were local celebrities, such as Mollye Barrows of WEAR Channel 3, Madrina Newcomb of The Skin Care Center of Gulf Breeze, and Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole. All models were escorted by Marines and Air Force soldiers throughout the show.
The show started out with model and PJC pre-pharmacy major, Sheryl Miles, who wore a design from designer Diana Booth called “Summer Solstice.” As the disc jokey played the upbeat song “Circus” by Britney Spears, Sheryl walked down the runway in an outfit from butchered paper towels from the seafood department, blue plastic from the recycle bin, and Christmas bows she received from her grandmother.
“I just liked that I got to model and be outrageous and nobody cared, and I had a lot of fun wearing just a piece of paper,” Miles said. “My outfit is actually made out of the seafood wrapping paper that they wrap seafood in at Wal-Mart.”
Overall, the fashion and environmentally friendly fashion show was a success. To end, the proud accomplishment of the night was PJC’s talented Jessica Woods. Although visually impaired, she succeeded in making and designing an outfit from a used table cover with circles from shopping bags for her and her guide dog. As Jessica walked across the stage the sound of applaud rose. The show ended in an upbeat fashion.