Maids become creative models in ‘trashion extravaganza’ to raise awareness about environmental issues

SINGAPORE: Domestic workers from the Philippines put their creative juices to good use by creating dresses made of rubbish. Migrants’ worker group HOME, the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, called the fashion show made up of the “dresses” a “full-on trashion extravaganza.”

“Contestants strutted the stage with confidence, awing us with their intricate designs and craftsmanship. From Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee packets to bottle caps, plastic bags, and newspapers, the women transformed what would have been thrown away as trash into complete masterpieces. One could only imagine the number of hours spent, painstakingly putting together each creation. Kudos to the Kaugnay team for planning such a fun and meaningful event. We look forward to many more to come!” wrote HOME.

Kaugnay, an organisation for Filipina domestic workers launched earlier this year, staged its first “Trashion Show” on Sunday (Nov 26) at the HFSE International School in Mountbatten Road. The four-hour show was put on with the support of HOME. The “Trashion Show” aimed to focus on the environment, specifically on the importance of reducing, reusing, and upcycling. It featured the women wearing creations made of a large part of plastic packaging material, with plastic being one of the main contributors to ocean pollutants.

On the “Journey to Zero Waste Life in Singapore” Facebook page, a netizen who had attended the “trashion show” gave props to the “amazing women” behind the show.

Contestants made their gowns out of used – mostly unrecyclable – trash. The skill and creativity was mind blowing and made my own dabbling in this area look like child’s play. They worked for weeks, sometimes months, in their limited free time to create mind-blowing outfits,” wrote Ms Robin Rheaume.

Theatre director and activist Ms Sangeeta Nambiar, one of the judges at the “Trashion Show,” also posted about the event.

“When Ian Bhoojhoo and I were discussing this, I asked her why Trashion? Was Kaugnay's focus on recycling?

‘It's a subtle message,’ she said. ‘We FDW's are treated as trash by some of our employers and so we want to show that beautiful things can come out of trash.’

I have never seen a more creative group of people! What an absolutely incredible show!! So much needs to change in terms of our mindsets towards FDW'S who literally run our homes for us.

#OBRSingapore will concentrate on Recycling as its Rising theme for 2024. All proceeds from certain shows will go either to HOME or AWARE.” /TISG

Read also: HOME celebrates International Migrant’s Day, featuring SG’s volleyball-playing domestic workers