Sami Rapp photo: Fashion students advertise event on creative poster.

The Mercyhurst Fashion Promotion class taught by Professor Erin Magorien will be hosting a Re-Fashion show on Thursday, May 2, at 8 p.m. in the Student Union Great Room.

The juniors and seniors in the class came up with a unique spin on their annual fashion show. This year’s show will take gently used clothing and ‘up-cycle’ (re-cycle with an up-scale flare) the clothing into current and trendy attire.

Fashion Merchandising junior Emily Isbell said the theme of ‘re-fashion’ stresses a “do what you can with what you have” mentality.

“As college students, we don’t have the money to constantly be buying the hottest trends, so it is vital for us to re-purpose our wardrobe to stay current, and on budget,” said junior Valeria Silva Esteves. “Not only will this fashion show focus on re-purposed outfits, but it will also include garments made from unconventional materials such as newspapers, and magazine covers.”

All 13 students in the class have been working on various elements of the event in order for it to come together. The event is separated into four distinct themes: “DIY Fashion,” “Garbage to Gorgeous,” “Local Treasures” and “T-Shirt Transformations.” Students have been working on organizational tasks for the event, collecting donations, re-constructing garments and marketing the show.

The students are collecting gently used garments to donate to the Caring Closet which provides clothing to needy families in the Erie area free of charge. The students will also donate all ticket sales and wearable outfits from the fashion show to the Caring Closet.

If you bring a gently used item of clothing to be donated, you will be entered into a raffle to win one of the fabulous prizes donated to the Mercyhurst Fashion Department by a local Erie business.

Juniors Emily Adamski and Emily Isbell are leading the efforts on this fashion show with the help of the following students: Isabella Cardina, Gage Carrig, Anna Foll, Ava Hlad, Anna Hoover, Erin Knepper, Jazmyne Lewis, Leanne Robinson, Maximilian Schroeck, Valeria Silva Esteves and Allison Voltz, along with the more than 50 volunteers modeling for the event.

“Planning this event has been a great opportunity for the class. We all have our specific jobs but are constantly working together to deliver a great show,” Esteves said. “I hope the audience finds the re-purposed clothes appealing and will be inspired to make their own, as well as understand the importance of recycling in our world today.”

Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for students and will be available at the door.

For more information, contact Erin Magorien at 814-824-2510 or emagorien@mercyhurst.edu.