Bannerly Love Fashion Show

Fashion Design students at The Art Institute of Philadelphia have put a dazzling new twist on recycling by transforming promotional fabric banners into stunning fashions and innovative accessories.

A fashion show of the designs took place at 12:30 p.m. on June 10 in the Rotunda at the Shops at Liberty Place in Center City Philadelphia.

Pictured: Fashion design by Cha’Tiana Benbow
Model: Breanna Moore
Photo Credit: Chelsea Wertz

Click to view photographs from the Bannerly Love Fashion Show

Students from faculty member Karen Karuza’s Special Topics in Fashion Design class took on the Project Runway-style three-week challenge to design innovative garments from the polyester banners that had once promoted the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of Oliver!

Armed with a stack of banners, boundless creativity and finely-honed design skills, the students “upcycled” the colorful fabrics into unique and glamorous- yet wearable- pieces.

Click to view some photographs of the dresses

The students’ latest assignment was to take fabric scraps from banners for the Pennsylvania Ballet, Franklin Institute, Walnut Street Theatre and other institutions and transform them into fashionable accessories. The Center City District plans to produce one of the accessory designs and make it available for sale at local boutiques.

Click to view some photographs of the dresses and accessories

“It’s often an ideal opportunity for students to partner with area organizations,” said Karuza.

“They can really see the results of their creativity in the community, and it is a great learning experience for them to work with real-life clients and with the constraints on fabric, time and budget that you get in the real world. This has been a very exciting project for them and the results have been outstanding.”

Student designer Keonia Lucas says her gown was designed for both form and function. “I imagined Cinderella skipping out on the ball, kicking up her heels and dancing in the street to the sounds of the neighborhood block party band.”

Students in Karen Karuza’s Special Topics in Fashion Design class: Nicole Adlawan, Cha’Tiana Benbow, Meagan Cook, Quiona Faust, Rafiq Gross, Amy Handerhan, Natasha Hill, George Johnson, Dawn Liggett, Donte Livingston, Salvatore Loggia, Keonia Lucas, Anjell Middleton, Olufunke Odukoya, Jermaine Wennah.