Fashions by the Sea

Creative Recycling Centre has ​created a unique fashion exhibition for the Sculptures by Gladstone Harbour 2021 project.  Fashions by the Sea will highlight the impacts of humans on our marine environment by using marine debris to create statement outfits for six mannequins. The mannequins will be displayed at the 2021 Gladstone Harbour Festival celebrations over the Easter long weekend. 

The marine debris fashions have been created by our team of volunteers with the design and artwork overseen by local artist, Tracey Smith.  

Sadly, all the marine debris used for these fashions was found on the beaches and waterways across the Gladstone Region.  Marine debris and plastic pollution is the most widespread problem affecting the marine environment and is a major threat to the health of the Great Barrier Reef.  

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Introducing our models & fashions...

Sandy Flip Flop
​Sandy is a local beach babe rocking a flip flop mini skirt and styrofoam bikini top.  Sandy wants to remind us to take our thongs home when we go to the beach. 

• Over 210,000 thongs and rubber footwear items have been collected from beach clean up sites around Australia since 2001!

​Annette Holey
Annette has been styled by the CRC team and is ready for the next Gladstone Racing Carnival.  She is wearing an intricately woven black fishing net dress, with a red netting sash.    To complete the outfit, Annette holds a crab pot bait handbag with a red and white chain strap, a  stylish plastic lid fascinator and aviator sunglasses. 

​Betty Bottletop
Wearing a bright multicoloured plastic bottle top bikini, Betty features one of the top 3 marine debris items.

• 80% of marine debris on the reef is plastic.
• Over 1.2 million plastic lids and tops have been collected from beach clean ups since 2001. 

Miss Surprise
Miss Surprise is wearing a crab pot tutu, with marine debris ornaments.  Her top features plastic straws and a blue plastic bag flower. This outfit was designed to showcase the range of marine debris items that are found in waterways and washed up on our beaches.

Almost 5 million pieces of plastic have been recorded through the Australian Marine Debris Initiative since 2001!

Skye Weatherall
Skye is ready for any occasion in this teal blue latex weather balloon top featuring a matching blue and pink fishing rope flower.
 
Weather balloons, and their associated components are significant constituents of marine debris.  They are a risk for marine animals who can ingest them and become entangled in their ropes. 

Freya Knots
Freya is wearing a fluffy deteriorating fishing rope bandeau top with a golden bomber lure brooch.  Her skirt is made of nylon fishing nets and jewellery has been supplied by Boogie Boarders.
 
196km of rope and 526km of fishing line has been collected from Australian beach clean up sites since 2001! 

The marine debris statistics have been sourced from the Australian Marine Debris Initiative and provided to us by Tangaroa Blue!  

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Thank you to Sculptures by Gladstone Harbour and Boyne Tannum HookUp for supporting this project.