May 4, 2007

Trash to Fashion – “Gap Year”

Waitakere City Council’s Trash to Fashion show is to take a “gap year” after a decade of eco-friendly entertainment.

Trash to Fashion has grown from humble beginnings to become a unique and valuable programme for the Waitakere City community.

To reach its full potential - progressing the community education programme, re-energising the show and placing the programme on a more commercially viable footing - Waitakere City Council has decided the Trash to Fashion programme is to make 2007 its “Gap Year”.

Waitakere City Council’s Manager Arts, Naomi McCleary, says the Council has been delighted with the progress of the Trash to Fashion programme since its inception.

“Taking a time out will allow time for everyone involved in Trash to Fashion to examine the different options for expanding and refreshing the programme, and to develop a three-year plan to realise the full potential of this unique initiative.”

The Council has also decided to look into whether a community trust of some sort would be appropriate to partner with the Council and Keep Waitakere Beautiful in running the event in the future.

Ms McCleary emphasises that the gap year does not impact the youth education programme, which will kick off in later this month and culminate in a schools event later in the year. But for 2007 there will not be a ‘big bang’ show.

“The Trash to Fashion programme certainly has a part to play in raising community awareness of the need to reduce, reuse and recycle our solid waste products. We all look forward to the complete return of the Trash to Fashion community education programme and show at the Trusts Stadium in 2008 - Trash to Fashion as we have never known it before.”

Long-term sponsors of Trash to Fashion in the past include Keep Waitakere Beautiful (who were also the originators of the show), The Trusts, Kensington Swan and Unitec.

ENDS

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