Cardboard boxes, chip packets, sweet wrappers, feed bags, bottle tops and exuberant colour spilled from taxis and burst out of cars at the Trashion Show held recently.

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Estcourt and Midlands learners were among the crowd of 200 that arrived at the Trashion Show held in Howick to showcase their creative use of waste in celebration of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day.

The aim… to have as much fun as possible because the best way to spread an environmental message is with laughter and infectious enthusiasm.

Since the first Dargle Trashion Show, held in 2014, when a dozen children participated, the event has grown exponentially and this year, due to a partnership with the Water Explorer Programme, schools from across KwaZulu-Natal participated and astonished the crowd with their creative, environmentally conscious outfits.

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Learner Nokwanda Hlongwane, from Estcourt’s Muntuza Primary School won for her creative wedding dress, Sphelele Mbele won for her traditional Makoti outfit while the confident Lindelani Mtshali won for the best traditional Zulu attire.

Phumelelani Primary School learners, Fezokuhle Nzimande was awarded the title Smarty Pants while Lungelo Malinga won the Most Colourful prize. Tejal Naidoo stunned the audience in her mermaid fishtail, while Sifundo Ndlovu scooped the Rock Star award for really standing out!

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Jesse and Hannah Zunckel in their spectacular Swan Lake ballerina tutus were among the spectators’ favourites.

Fashionista and East Coast Radio DJ, Jane Linley-Thomas was so impressed with some of the outfits that she claimed to have found the perfect jacket to wear to the Durban July Handicap. Yvonne Munk, a guest speaker at the event said, “The children are so talented and their imagination knows no bounds. I cheered, clapped and cried and wished I could ululate!” she enthused.