Stuck At Prom
Vanessa L.
19 Rolls
74 Hours
Inspiration:
Growing up, duck tape was the creative outlet to my imagination–forming purses fit for a fantasy princess, crafting tails as a make-believe mermaid, and forging my arrowheads as a fearless jungle archer. When I discovered the duck tape dress contest, I was exhilarated to have the chance to revisit a nostalgic hobby on a grander scale. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the possibilities swirling in my mind–ranging from Chinese cultural motifs to personal influences–and struggled to settle on one. I opted to let my local craft store duct tape aisle stock dictate my decision. I was drawn to the vibrant array of colors before me, reminiscent of my latest snorkeling adventure, where–just beneath the surface–a kaleidoscope of corals and sea life greeted me. Envisioning the gorgeous blues of the water, contrasted with the vivid neons and reflective metallics, I found my inspiration in one of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems: the ocean. With no prior experience in fashion or dressmaking, I challenged myself to design a skirt shape that reflected the mesmerizing beauty and quiet turbulence of ocean waves. Fittingly, when laid flat, the dress takes on a cresting wave-like form. While each ocean layer is clearly delineated by color in the dress design, I placed animals across the borders to represent the underlying unity of the ocean ecosystem. The rich, deep blue that dominates the dress reflects the mysterious depths, while the bursts of coral bring it to life, illuminating the ocean’s hidden wonders. The electric blue section, representing the kelp forest, has a deliberately messy, varied texture to capture the tangled beauty of the kelp itself. And finally, the white tide, although subtle, evokes memories of the familiar California shores that first connected me to the sea. Plus, the animals (crab, hermit crab, starfish, octopus, fish, seahorse, clam, turtle) were my way of incorporating my love of origami and paper crafts. The construction of the dress involved a lot of experimentation, but I was lucky to receive help from my friend and family. Navigating and laughing through each failure made the experience even more meaningful.
