Model Jessi Kay, wears a design by, Apry Jenkins, made of reel to reel tape, cd’s, guitar strings, and audio tape, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Ballroom of FLC.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Katelynn McCullough, sponsored by the La Plata County Humane Society, walks Troy, while wearing a design by student interns, made o cat food bags, cat collars, leashes, treat bags, and socks, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Ballroom of FLC.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Ayla Quinn, sponsored by The Durango Herald, wears a design by Olivia J. Dombach, made of magazine pages, orange newspaper bags, metal printing plates, phone book pages, irrigation tubing, wire, and bundle straps, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Ballroom of FLC.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Sara Knight, sponsored by Occasions Bridal/Formal/Tuxedo, wears a design by Edith Willey during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was a benefit for the Durango Arts Center.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Katelynn McCullough, sponsored by the La Plata County Humane Society, walks Troy, while wearing a design by student interns, made o cat food bags, cat collars, leashes, treat bags, and socks, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Models take to the catwalk during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was benefit for the Durango Arts Center held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Andrea Ellis, sponsored by La Plata County Humane Society Thrift Store, wears a design by Colleen Dunning, made of books, book pages, ex piping, old sheets, and old ties, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cody Kopp, of 99X provided was DJ and co-emcee during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was benefit for the Durango Arts Center held in the Student Union Ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Arielle Lakat, sponsored by Animas Trading Company, wears a design by Srara Squirrell, Chis Lile, Cathy Wakeman, Arielle Lakat, made of plastic bags, tissue paper, and wire, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Sara Knight, sponsored by Occasions Bridal/Formal/Tuxedo, wears a design by Edith Willey, made of dress bags, shirt bags, tag fasteners, cable ties, and thread, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Ayla Quinn, sponsored by the Durango Herald, wears a design by Olivia J. Dombach, made of magazine pages, orange newspaper bags, metal printing plates, phone book pages, irrigation tubing, wire, and bundle straps, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Sheridan Packer, sponsored by Hair Fusion, wears a design by The Hair Fusion Team, made of Syncro lift highlighter tub, Color tubes and caps, bobby pins, hair extensions, and color foil during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in thethe Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Stephanie Dennison, sponsored by Durango Muffler & Brake, wears a design by TJ Cleveland, and Stephanie Dennison, made of automotive parts, air filters, brake parts, and wire, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Kaylee Kempinski, sponsored by the Strater Hotel, Mahogany Grille, wears a design by Emily Flood, Jessica Fairchild, and James Estelle, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Ayla Quinn, sponsored by the Durango Herald, wears a design by Olivia J. Dombach, made of magazine pages, orange newspaper bags, metal printing plates, phone book pages, irrigation tubing, wire, and bundle straps, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held inthe Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Models Ellie Boroff, “Villian”, left, and Adrian Wegeng-Frank, “Hero”, sponsored by Durango Sports Club, wear designs by Ellie Boroff, Adrian Wegeng-Frank, Will Thomas, Tahenia Telliano, Todd Rainingbird, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Davey Cooper, sponsored by Durango Wood Company, wears a design by Becky Joosten and Les Like, made of Wood cabinet knobs, and sandpaper, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held inthe Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Melanie Cordes, sponsored by Caldwell Banker Heritage House, wears a deign by Laurel Schaffer, made of house keys, wallpaper, cell phones, open house signs, lightbox real estate ads, fencing wire, duct tape, and CB logo shopping bag, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Justa Whitt, sponsored by Advanced Concrete Solutions Inc., wears a design by Justa Whitt, Susan Livingston, Karen Evans, and body paint by Magic Brush, made with cement tools, nails, tape, reinforced poly, chicken wire, and body paint, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Elaine Severson, sponsored by Elaine Severson, walks the cat walk wearing a design by Joan Walker, made of recycled parachutes, paracode, and thread, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Jessica Fairchild, sponsored by the Strater Hotel, Henry Strater Theater/1887 Catering, wears a design by Carla Bryant, Jolene Bernarda dn Suzan Lane, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Becky Joosten, sponsored by Durango Wood Company, wears a design by Becky Joosten and Les Like, made of Wood cabinet knobs, and sandpaper, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Doug Gonzales, sponsored by Durango Arts Center, wears a design by Doug Gonzales, made of DAC newsletters, pamphlets, postcards, paper tickets, retired costume pieces, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Kestrel Chaney, sponsored by Lemon Head Hair Salon, wears a design by Autumn Cockroff, made of foils, recycled hair color boxes, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The Stillwater Foundation Jazz Quartet provided music before the start of the Fashion Fusion show on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was benefit for the Durango Arts Center held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Dance in the Rockies provided entertainment during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was benefit for the Durango Arts Center held in the Student Union Ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Ayla Quinn, sponsored by the Durango Herald, wears a design by Olivia J. Dombach, made of magazine pages, orange newspaper bags, metal printing plates, phone book pages, irrigation tubing, wire, and bundle straps, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Erin O’Connor, sponsored by Durango Arts Center, wears a design by Doug Gonzales, made of DAC newsletters, pamphlets, postcards, paper tickets, retired costume pieces, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
David Habrat, of Ballantine Communications, was co-emcee during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was benefit for the Durango Arts Center held in the Student Union Ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Models take to the catwalk during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lewis College. The event was benefit for the Durango Arts Center held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Model Jessi Kay, wears a design by, Apry Jenkins, made of reel to reel tape, cd’s, guitar strings, and audio tape, during Fashion Fusion on Wednesday evening at Fort Lews College. The event a benefit for the Durango Arts Center was held in the Student Union ballroom at FLC. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
In the minutes before the models took to the runway, backstage at the first ever Fashion Fusion – Deconstructed show was bustling, as everyone put the finishing touches on their hair and makeup and tried to steel their nerves.
The ballroom at Fort Lewis College was transformed for the evening, with a runway and DJ booth. The Stillwater Foundation Jazz Quartet provided the pre-show entertainment, while dancers with Dance in the Rockies kept the audience entertained during judging.
The show was a benefit for the Durango Arts Center, and the businesses that participated were tasked with designing outfits using repurposed items that best illustrated their industry.
Ellie Boroff, modeling for Durango Sports Club, was wearing an outfit that consisted of a weight vest made of a series of 2½-pound weights (43½ pounds total) and exercise bands. Racquet balls attached to a treadmill-belt, wood paneling from the club’s floor and electric tape combine to make up her skirt, and her armbands were made out of a pool cover.
Adrian Wegeng-Frank, also representing Durango Sports Club, was similarly decked out in a vest made up of braided exercise bands, a skirt made of a pool cover embellished with mirrors.
“We created a committee and came up with ideas like gladiators, Transformers and stuff like that, and we landed on superheroes,” Wegeng-Frank said. “So I’m a superhero and she (Boroff) is a villain.”
It took their committee, made up of Wegeng-Frank, Boroff, Will Thomas, Tahenia Telliano and Todd Rainingbird about a month and a half to make the ensembles.
Erin O’Connor, decked out in paper feathers and black sequins, represented the DAC.
“I wasn’t nervous until I got here today,” she said. “I was like, ‘People fall on these things (runways) sometimes. Other than that, I’m fine.”
While she waited, her outfit’s designer and also a model for the Durango Arts Center, Doug Gonzales, was putting the finishing touches on his paper-feathered jeans and shirt.
“I was thinking about how the DAC helps art take flight, so I thought of feathers,” he said, adding that getting everything ready for the show was no easy, 10-minute task. “It took at least a full 24 hours.”
As well as a benefit for the DAC, the event also brought out a guy looking for a home.
Marisa Pacheco and Katelynn McCullough, who were modeling for the La Plata County Humane Society, were accompanied by Troy, a dog that is a distemper survivor and who is up for adoption. Troy, too, was modeling for the occasion: He was resplendent in a sassy orange vest that read “I’m a survivor” on the side. The women worked the animal theme, as well, in dresses made of recycled dog and cat food bags.
In the corner of the dressing area stood a tall, gray woman wearing a huge plastic skirt and flowered hat.
Advance Concrete Solutions’ model, Justa Whitt, was having the last touches of concrete-colored body paint applied to her by Susan Livingston. The two women own the body-painting business Magic Brush.
Planning for the show took about a month, Whitt said. Her outfit, designed by her, Livingston and Karen Evans, was made of cement tools, nails, tape, chicken wire and head-to-toe cement-colored body paint.
And then the show began.
To blazing lights and pounding music, the models took to the stage one by one. If they were as nervous as they said they felt backstage, that was gone by the time it was their turn. As they made their way down to the end of the runway, judges Lisa Laughlin, Kirk Komick and J.M. Jones assessed each with a critical eye.
After the show, audience members got to select their favorite outfit for the People’s Choice Award by going online with their smartphones and casting their vote.
In the end, The Durango Herald won Best Use of Raw Materials for a dress and headpiece made of magazine pages, orange plastic newspaper bags, metal printing plates, phone book pages, irrigation tubing, wire and bundle straps. The Herald’s entry was designed by Olivia J. Dombach and modeled by Ayla Quinn.
Taking home two of the three prizes – Most Wearable Art and the coveted People’s Choice Award – was Occasions Bridal/Formal/Tuxedo, with a gown made out of dress bags, shirt bags, tag fasteners, cable ties and thread. The winning outfit was modeled by Sara Knight and the design was inspired by Edith Willey.
