Read before wearing
By Isabel Zermani
Merging fashion and all things literary, the New Hanover County Public Library hosted its third annual design contest and runway show for teens (ages 13–18) dubbed “Fiction to Fashion” at EXPO 216, co-hosted by Salt. These teens took to not just novels, but to children’s books, comic books, maps, magazines, cassettes and CDs — all too worn for library lending and ready to be recycled — for inspiration for their looks.
Some married content to concept, creating a ’20s frock from pages of The Great Gatsby or a superhero stunner from Spider-man comics. A lion’s mane inspired a headpiece and earring set fringed with pages from Andy and the Lion. A crown of fragmented jewels from snapped CDs topped off a prima ballerina look that gave us Frozen feels.
Folded, rolled, burned and bound, these teens laced up (often with cassette tape string) and hit the runway with enviable style and astonishing substance.
