More than 100 people gathered in the Reilly Theatre on Thursday night for Recycle Couture, a “green” fashion show hosted by the Dunham School. The green theme of the night was obvious as models strutted a green runway and attendees received green programs. Student designers used assorted items including CDs, bed sheets, coffee filters, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, yearbook pages and magazine clippings to create the outfits. Models sported teased hair, bright colored lipstick and poised expressions. “It was all that I hoped for and more,” said Collyn Cooper, Dunham student and chief organizer of the show. “My nerves are still twitching.” The show was divided into three sections: “All Worn Out,” “Stash of Trash” and “Paper or Plastic.” Entertainment filled the intervals between sections, including dancers, a guest speaker and The Alan Twitty Project, Catholic High School Battle of the Bands winner. Max Zoghbi, psychology senior, spoke about his trip to Egypt where he visited Garbage City, a settlement outside Cairo whose economy centers on the collection of the capital city’s garbage.”You certainly smell the city before you see it,” Zoghbi said. A school sits in the middle of Garbage City to educate kids about recycling and help them escape the trash of Garbage City, Zoghbi said. He encouraged the audience to purchase items to benefit the Spirit of Youth Association, a nonprofit organization for Egyptians living in these conditions. The program provided audience members with several options for donating including a silent auction, an art and jewelry sale and a live auction of select outfits from the show. The outfit receiving the highest bid sold for $230.Dunham student Olivia Pontiff created rings, necklaces and pendants made of melted crayons, scarves made of T-shirts and rings made of soda cans, which were sold at the show. All proceeds of the show went toward the Spirit of Youth Association and the Manna Project International, a nonprofit organization assisting the destitute people of Nicaragua and Ecuador. “This event was produced in collaboration with the LSU Office of Equity and Diversity and the Reilly Theatre to promote the awareness of environmental stewardship,” said Azizza Darwish, Dunham student and director of publicity for the event. The University’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach collaborated with Dunham by booking the Reilly Theatre as a donated event, Darwish said. “Dr. Katrice Albert and Brandon Smith have done an amazing job in materializing our ideas about the show,” Darwish said. “It is part of their objective with LSU to reach out to the Baton Rouge community to improve quality of life and education.”- – – -Contact Sabrina Trahan at [email protected]