Upcycled eco-fashion statements

A lively display of upcycled rubbish transformed into wearable art made an eco-fashion statement during the opening of this year’s McIntosh & Son Mingenew Midwest Expo.

Mingenew Primary School teacher Heather Barnwall was MC of the catwalk of Year 5 and 6 students, who provided the perfect example of this year’s Expo theme, Sustainable Living On and Off Farm.

More than 20 students from Years 5 and 6 turned plastic bags, straws, egg cartons and even fishing lines into artistic outfits.

Ms Barnwall, who led the project, said its aim was to encourage sustainability “through educating the students about the worldwide issue of pollution and the impact that pollution is having on the environment”.

“I wanted to empower my students to take action and build their capacity to adopt sustainable practices in their daily life,” she said.

“When I planned this design and technology project, my intention was to encourage my students to use fashion and art to make a visual statement about pollution.”

Ms Barnwall said it had been rewarding to see the knowledge gained by the students who had taken part in the project.

“Students also learnt about the different types of pollution and how this can impact agricultural industries, specifically the destruction it has to crop and livestock farming if the land, air and water becomes polluted by chemicals,” she said.