Rockford event promotes eco-friendly fashion and sustainable living

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – Three local businesses teamed up to “save the world from your closet” with a fashion show and presentation promoting environmental sustainability.

The Norwegian hosted the show, partnering up with Tad More Tailoring and Severson Dells Nature Center.

Approximately sixty guests attended an evening dedicated to eco-conscious fashion. Not only were the hosts, designers, and models dressed in eco-friendly fashion, but even the stage itself was decorated with scraps of dress fabric that had been transformed into a tablecloth and backdrop.  

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There were 5 designers, and 4 models, with one designer wearing her own creation. One of the designer’s skirts was made from a repurposed antique embroidered pillow case, while another’s fancy black and silver dress was made from “trash she found around her mother’s house.” Yet another model wore a white gown made from pillowcases. All of these items could have easily been tossed out, but gained new life through a designer’s creativity. 

 CEO of Tad More Tailoring Sarene Alsharif explained the “peril of perfection” during her presentation. 

“We feel like we have to do everything perfectly before we can do anything. And because of that, we’re scared to start making an impact.”

She went on to tell how when she first decided to live a greener lifestyle she went home and saw her cabinets were full of plastic tupperware. It would have been challenging to replace everything at once. Instead each month she brought home a replacement glass container, and at the end of the year she’d made a difference with twelve sustainable glass containers.

Alsharif went on to challenge the audience on how they could reuse things by crafting them into something with a new purpose while saying, “Get your imagination flowing, don’t worry about it being perfect. Perfect is the killer of innovation. Embrace the imperfections.”

Ann Wasser, executive director of the Severson Dells Nature Center, said she wanted to bring the community together while encouraging environmentally conscious choices.

Wasser encouraged guests to shop at thrift stores to give clothing a second life. She explained that not only is it less expensive, but often the quality of the fabrics are higher.

Wasser explained that you could find something close then take it to a tailor like Tad More to get a unique style all their own, and it would still be less costly than many new store items.