Michelle Smith, Groundwork Providence

Michelle Smith is an AmeriCorps volunteer with Groundwork Providence, asmall nonprofit urban environmental organization in Providence, R.I. Sheworks on integrating the arts into Groundwork's environmentalprogramming.

Four days until Runway Earth: Recycled Fashions for a Sustainable World! Weeks ago, I thought I would be a wreck at this point, worrying if models would show up, if the clothes would be ready in time, and if the DJ would forget his music. Although I have not quite reached that heart pounding, frantic state, there is a definite feeling of nervousness and excitement around here. The fashion world is a busy one, even for recycled and DIY fashions.

I'm constantly checking and updating our "To Do" list for the show, and it seems that there is always something to add. As I sit here at my computer, looking out at a sunny yet achingly cold day, I somehow feel reassured that everything will work out. Everyone with whom we have worked and talked about the fashion show has had a very positive response. I had no idea how many people in this city not only make their own clothes, but also make them using reused materials. Undeterred by what is "in vogue" this season, many people are creating their own ideas of fashion -- from an old pair of pants cut up and stitched into a skirt or old T-shirts torn apart and reborn as a beautiful blouse.

One of the reasons I am glad we are putting together this show is that it gives people a chance to show off their hidden talents to the world (or at least to Providence!). Many of the designers who are contributing clothes have never had their items on public display before -- in fact, many of them had never even thought about it. Yet we have already had requests from people interested in purchasing some of the fashions.

But getting back to the details. Yesterday was a busy but very productive day. After writing my diary entry for Grist, I hopped in our organization's green and lumbering pickup truck and headed down to South Kingstown, RI, to the University of Rhode Island campus. Here I met my friends Katie and Matt, who have been helping me put together and edit a video for the fashion show. During the show, we will be projecting a video as a backdrop to the models on the runway. Piecing together different scenes from recycling and landfill videos distributed by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), we put together a montage of recycling how-to's, shots of our overflowing landfill, and images of "Maxman," the state's recycling mascot, who encourages everyone to "Recycle to the Max!"

Needing something to do during the two hours it takes to copy the footage to videotape, Katie and I took the opportunity to take off for Crazy Burger, our favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurant in South County. Indulging in a scrumptious meal of tofu and avocado sandwiches and berry and rice milk smoothies, we eagerly discussed the fashion show and the different "model walks" Katie could do on stage. (She is modeling a piece made by one of our designers).

After that, I picked up our completed video tape and headed back to Providence, where Dani informed me of the fashion show happenings I had missed during the day. She had confirmed our hairdresser and makeup artist for the show, arranged to pick up some more clothes we had been waiting for, and had even tracked down a few more models. She also found the much sought-after clothing rack we had been looking for. I worry most about the little (but still important) details, and was happy and relieved to find that Dani had taken care of a number of them.

I spent the remainder of the day organizing the outfits and putting accessories together. Today seems like it will be a busy one as well: working on the program and script, getting literature from local environmental and sustainability organizations who will be at the show, finding even more last-minute models, and tracking down raffle prizes. The good news: So far, everything seems to be working out with no major problems.