Back with a Bang!

Following a two-year hiatus, the 2022 Fiction to Fashion project runway show held Oct. 28 at the Cameron Art Museum did not disappoint.

Fiction to Fashion is New Hanover County Public Library’s fashion contest for teens. Participants design an original ensemble fit for the runway to be modeled before a crowd of spectators and fashion industry judges. The only catch is, the designs must be made entirely of discarded books, magazines, cassette tapes or CDs.

Zico Jones drew inspiration from the book series Eragon and its main character Angela for her design entitled Medieval Madness that was awarded Most Avant Garde.

“I’m very honored I got to participate in this year’s Fiction to Fashion show, much more that I won in the category I was aiming for,” says Zico, who created her cloak out of folded maps and donned a mushroom hat that stood several feet above her head. She made the hat “by cutting about a 6-inch border from the center, making supports from the cardboard into a dome, then plastering paper from a book all around.”

The event was originated by NHCPL children’s librarian Scooter Hayes in 2015. It brought national acclaim, receiving an achievement award from NACo (National Association of Counties). This year’s Fiction to Fashion was his sixth show and first since 2019.

“All throughout the pandemic people kept asking, ‘Is it coming back, is it coming back?’” says Hayes. “It was a little rocky since we hadn’t done it in so long. We had to bring together a new planning team, but as far as the show and the execution of the show, I’m so proud. It was so amazing, a really special moment for these teens.”

Hair and make-up for the models was provided by Flourish Hair Boutique. Judges were Jessica Gaffney, a costume designer and theater program chair at Cape Fear Community College, Jess James, a wardrobe stylist and owner of Jess James + Co. Vintage boutique, Cable Hardin, an award-winning filmmaker, artist, animator and educator, and Hannah Foy, a fashion photographer and former Fiction to Fashion two-time winner.

“When you see a piece and you can tell the designer really put thought into the best way to use the materials they were given, or went the extra mile to make accessories like a purse or shoes, that really stands out to the judges,” says Foy.

The panel picked Treazure’s Chest, designed by Treazure Danns, for the Golden Scissors award, the show’s most prestigious. Treazure pulled from the princess in Children of Blood and Bone. Volume and dimension were created with layers of accordion-folded book pages. 

“I really wanted it to move and flow, so the dress is held together by lots of safety pins. There was a lot of paper folding, hole punching, threading string, stapling and taping,” says Treazure, who experienced a slight wardrobe malfunction during dress rehearsal. “It started falling apart because it wasn’t strong enough, so I had to go back and undo everything and start threading all of the layers again.”  

“She said, ‘I’m still having fun, but this is just what I have to do to make this work,’” laughs Hayes.

The Most Ready to Wear award was won by a brother and sister duo. Maggie Carter designed street clothes of book pages, a hat made of book bindings, and a skateboard made of CD shards modeled by her brother, Noah Carter.

“He came riding the skateboard down the aisle to accept the award. It was epic,” says Hayes.

CD shards were also used in La Petite Modiste by Lydia Gore that won Crowd Favorite. It incorporated over 30 handmade floral accents.

The Best Literary Tie-In went to another sibling duo, Nichola and Vestalyn, for their modernized Gone with the Wind-inspired dress. A top hat inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in the design Graceful by Grace Fitzgerald won Best Accessory.

In all there were 16 designs and 18 participants and a packed house at the Cameron Art Museum for the show’s return. Local businesses donated prizes for the winners.