Jackson Free Press

Model and Bravo TV's "Project Runway" host Heidi Klum quipped during the show that in high fashion, "One day you're in, and the next day, you're out." If it's true for haute couture, then recycled fashion can be a metaphor for the importance of improving our environment. We don't want to know what happens once we're "out."

The arts community around the Ross Barnett Reservoir has combined the task of repurposing trash with a love for fashion in the fourth annual Project Rezway, a fashion show featuring clothing composed of at least 75 percent recyclable materials.

"The outfits are made from about anything you can imagine: balloons and pop tops, Mardi Gras beads, VHS tapes, bubble wrap, all types of trash bags—white and the big black ones—(and) Walmart and Target bags. Even (a Keep the Rez Beautiful) mesh trash bag was used for a skirt for a little girl last year," says Deb Veeder, chairwoman of Keep the Rez Beautiful, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the reservoir.

This year, the designers and models will come from around the state to compete for cash prizes at the event, which is Thursday, April 23, at the Mississippi Craft Center. The event will also feature a silent auction, a sportsman's package raffle drawing with prizes such as a Yeti Hopper cooler, a Crossgates Swim and Recreation Club membership and a Braves Fan Package, and the Rezzie Awards ceremony. Keep the Rez Beautiful presents the awards to people and businesses that make environmentally friendly improvements in the reservoir community.

The idea for Project Rezway came four years ago when a small group of locals attended Keep Bay St. Louis Beautiful's Trash Bash Recycle Fashion Show.

"We decided to take it to a different level," Veeder says. "'Project Runway' was popular, so we decided to have Project Rezway and do a Recycle Fashion Show Gala. The event has had more college and adult designers, but last year we had a few children design outfits, which were wonderful."

The proceeds will go to Keep the Rez Beautiful's work on enhancing the new Turtle Pointe Nature Area, a walking trail and sensory garden. The garden, which Lowes Home Improvement and Keep America Beautiful funded, features ferns and butterfly ragweed, a native milkweed and the only plant that monarch butterfly caterpillars eat. Over the past 20 years, monarchs have suffered an 80 percent decline in population, primarily due to milkweed habitat loss. Turtle Pointe now provides a stopping point for the butterflies' northern migration from Mexico.

Mixed-media artists Anne Campbell and Rhonda Blasingame of Bottletree Studios in Jackson will make the Rezzie Awards, along with contributing to the fashion. Students from the fashion department at Mississippi State University and several other fashion designers will also supply works.

"There will even be people wearing my up-cycled clothing who aren't models," Blasingame says. "We want to do more than just repurpose or recycle, but to make it new and exciting.

The celebrity fashion-show judges are Walt Grayson, Doug Berry, Mark Williams and Nancy Cleveland. Judging criteria for the recycled fashions include originality, creativity, design difficulty and overall impression. Virginia College will help the models with hair and makeup. Miss 103's Rick and Kim will emcee the event, Kathryn's Steak House (6800 Old Canton Road, 601-956-2803) will serve hors d'oeuvres, and Ashley Essential Pieces will provide desserts.

Sponsors include the Ross Barnett Reservoir Foundation, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Pearl River Water Supply District, Kathryn's Steak House, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Rezonate, an organization focused on protecting and restoring the water quality of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Leadership Rankin and Veeder have put together a variety of gift baskets, certificates, products and services from local business donations.

Project Rezway is 6 p.m., Thursday, April 23, at the Mississippi Craft Center (950 Rice Road, Ridgeland, 601-856-7546). Tickets are $20 at the door. Sponsorships are also available, with a table of eight for $450. For more information, visit keeptherezbeautiful.org.