Oak Mountain, Berry students finalists in fashion week competition

The first dress Charlee Vawter ever made could be on the runway during Birmingham Fashion Week this month. The 16-year-old Oak Mountain High School student is one of the 38 semi-finalists for the Rising Design Star competition.

Each contestant crafted a garment representing one of Alabama’s major industries (agriculture, livestock, transportation, technology, fishing, forestry and mining) with recycled or alternative materials such as glue, staples, tape, safety pins and paper clips. These garments were on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art through April 26. 

To create her dress, Charlee started with newspaper and glue to create its under layer. From there she created a makeshift fabric from trash bags and staples, painted it two shades of green, and added artificial plants and flowers 

Using leftover flowers, she created a crown and hot glued it together to go with the ensemble. Altogether, the project took her four weeks.

Charlee said her inspiration came from seeing a dress made of real flowers on the runway during an Alexander McQueen fashion show.

Vawter’s art teacher, Ashley Lemley, praised her for the honor and for her hard work on the project.

“She has worked tirelessly and handmade the dress from flowers without being able to sew it together using traditional methods,” said Lemley. “She used newspaper, glue and staples to put it all together. I think it is really amazing!”

Berry Middle School student Lola Waldrop is also a finalist in the competition. Her design mimicked the look of the interior of cave. Using a base of duct tape, wire, trash bags aluminum and chicken wire, she used charcoal and rock salt to create a texture like one seen in a cave that she used on the collar and the under side of the skirt.

A select number of contestants will advance to the final round of the competition to showcase their design on the Birmingham Fashion Week runway Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8. In addition to their initial runway look, the design students selected to progress to the next round will also be required to create a second look from recycled Buffalo Rock Co. materials to walk the runway and compete for the sought-after title of Birmingham Fashion Week’s Rising Design Star. Semifinalists will move on to the final round of judging during the finale runway show on Saturday, May 9, with the winner will be announced that evening and awarded a $500 scholarship.