A-Z Preston Hall hosted their Avant Garde Fashion show last week. This year marks the 13th staging of the annual event was event by the Hall’s Environmental Committee.

Dana Davis, who chairs the committee says the competition is held to display the creativity of the clusters and to encourage environmental awareness.

Titled Fashion from Garbage-Gala Night, the event saw an overflow of residents and other onlookers at the Hall’s Café.

The hosts of the evening were Darren Miller, and media personality and past Prestonite Debbie Bisoon.

The competition saw all 11 Clusters on Preston Hall creating pieces from recycled materials such as used plastic, paper, glass and metal.

Of course, each cluster brought out their ‘A’ game, as they were being judged by some respected figures in the Caribbean fashion industry. These were designer Dexter ‘3-D’ Pottinger, Miss UWI 2010 Angellique Virtue, Walk and Poise coach Jermaine Blair, as well as designer and entrepreneur Frachester Christie.

The runway was set ablaze by residents of each cluster modelling their pieces. No waste material was spared as pieces were seen which were made from party cups, egg cartons, bottle corks, plastic wrap, tarpaulin, sugar and rice crocus bags, banners, party flyers, cereal boxes, water bottles, foil paper, yellow pages and even leaves.

After all 11 pairs of models strutted their wear, and after the audience was entertained by “Di-Crew” dancers and a soulful song by Mr Preston Raheem Lawrence and Company, the judges made their final decisions known.

Best male model was awarded to David Francis, who walked for Sherwood Manner, while Brianna Higgins won best female model for Cluster Einheit.

Cluster Italia’s red and black pair of outfits won best design and Sherwood Manner’s fairy tale themed line won the award for best use of garbage.

The overall winners of the night was Cluster La Maison, with Sherwood Manner being the first runners-up. Einheit placed third, while Cluster Italia was fourth. Cluster Shamrock won fifth place.

— Candiece Knight