Photos by Linny Folau

The Trash to Art Fashion Competition was a big hit with a colourful display of imaginative fashion at the Nuku'alofa waterfront judging on June 4.

The competition attracted a number of young designers and models who let their creative minds go wild with their wearable trash creations. Using trash to make the best fashionable, and wearable attire, was challenging and fun.

The designers had a variety of trash to chose from, including plastic bags, aluminium cans, plastic bags, foils, newspapers, used phone cards, snack packets and other recyclable trash. The wide selection was very appropriate to the principal behind the competition, which was to promote the recycling and the reuse of trash.

The competition was hosted by the Tonga Solid Waste Management Project, their contribution to the celebration of the 2007 Environment Week, with guest of honour, Hon. Lupepau'u Tuita.

The Trash to Art Fashion Competition featured three categories: junior, teens and adults; and participants modelled their outfits on the walkway.

The Best Costume in the Junior Category, with a cash prize of $200 pa'anga was won by Nisyola Fifita from the Ocean of Light School.



The Best Costume in the Teen Category, with a cash prize of $200 pa'anga was won by Uanisi Kivalu, a Form 4 student at Liahona High School.

In the Adult Category the former Miss Heilala, Telesia Kaitapu, who modelled a design from the Good Samaritan Inn Resort, won Best Costume, and received a prize of $200 pa'anga.

The Tonga Solid Waste Management Project hoped to make the competition an annual event, to raise the awareness on the importance of the environment.