28 Rolls
36 Hours
At my part-time job as a teacher’s aid, my class is observing the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. I found it so fascinating to witness the immense process it goes through. I began to think about all the transformations I’ve gone through during the past few years, so I was eager to create a model of my journey for this contest.
12 Rolls
72 Hours
I've always been taken with the royal aesthetic. So I decided to use this as inspiration while adding a twist to it. I wanted to use colors and details that would allude to this, so I chose a gold and white color scheme. I made the top with individual strips of tape and used fabric as the base for the skirt. I then hand-stitched the strings of pearls across the bottom of the top, and did the same for the pearls spread throughout the top.
21 Rolls
55 Hours
I haven’t done an art project since sixth grade, but when my mom told me about this scholarship, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. My outfit was inspired by Sanibel Island in Florida, a place that holds some of my favorite memories with my family and grandparents. We used to visit every year, but after Hurricane Ian hit three years ago, we haven’t been able to go back—until now. With our return coming up soon, I wanted to base my design on all the memories I’ve missed: swimming in the ocean, protecting the turtle nests, building sandcastles with my sister and cousins, walking along the beach with my toes buried in the sand while collecting shells, and seeing an octopus at the aquatic and shell aquarium. I used foil to create my octopus, shells from the beach as buttons, and sand for the hat and shoes.
20 Rolls
180 Hours
This dress is inspired by a design I did as a little girl. As a kid I love imaging dresses inspired by the places and objects that surrounded me, this dress in particular is inspired by a koi pond. As a Japanese individual koi ponds are a whimsical staple of my culture which lead my younger self to choose to create a dress inspired by them. To create this dress I followed traditional sewing techniques such as using paper and making plastic wrap to create a pattern but rather than cutting out fabric pieces I would cover the pieces in the tape.
20 Rolls
80 Hours
I was on Instagram and watched a video of Taiwanese icon Nymphia Wind creating a headdress based on Peking opera. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, and when I found out about this competition, I finally had an excuse to make something like that myself. I wanted to pay homage to the dramatic costumes with every single bell and whistle included. It felt like an exercise in creativity since it is just such an unusual medium. I felt stretched to find solutions to tape-specific problems. The tassels were thin strips of tape rolled together and I rubbed the adhesive side of the tape against carpet to stop it from sticking to itself. My biggest inspiration above all else are my family, who have been huge supporters of my creative endeavors.
9 Rolls
35 Hours
I was inspired by classic Medieval fashion—an era known for its style and structure. I wanted to make a suit that looked timeless, using only duct tape. I made the jacket, pants, shoes, and even accessories like a cane and a half-face mask by layering and cutting tape over paper. It took a lot of trial and error, but I stayed creative and patient. In the end, I brought my idea to life and made a bold look I'm really proud of.
16 Rolls
135 Hours
My older brother and I have been crafting with Duck Tape for quite literally a decade. I remember being in Sunday school in the first grade, folding up pieces of paper and wrapping them in Duck Tape, calling it a sword, and rushing off to fight evildoers. As the years have passed, our skills and ideas have significantly developed. With a glance into our family's garage, you can find a veritable arsenal of Duck Tape weapons: swords, shields, daggers, axes, spears, and more. I first had the idea for my Stuck at Prom submission three years ago when my older brother created his own. I wanted to make a suit of armor stylized as a tuxedo, and that is precisely what I did. Whereas my brother’s tux took inspiration from our father’s side of the family and our Chinese roots, my armor draws inspiration from our mother’s Polish ancestry. My mother, whose maiden name was Polak, was bullied as a child due to her ethnic heritage. My tuxedo takes those attacks and wraps them around myself as a suit of armor. The Polish Hassar, also known as the Winged Hassar, were cavalry with a distinctive marking: they had feathered wings pointing outward from their backs. In my design, I incorporated several elements from the Polish Hussar, including the weapons they typically utilized (a flagged lance/spear and a saber) and the aforementioned wings. I also included the official emblem of Poland, a white eagle with a golden crown emblazoned upon a red shield. Although the eagle’s crown was removed for a time after World War II due to Soviet control, the eagle regained its regality once the communist regime was overthrown some decades later in 1990. The only part of the details taken from an external source were the shapes for the shield, eagle, and horse. They were sourced from heraldicart.org, which grants specific usage rights for all contents of the website under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike: “You may distribute this book and website as a whole, or portions of it, or incorporate its contents into other material, provided that you acknowledge the sources of the work and allow everyone to share the resulting material under the same terms.” Creative Commons allows for free usage, adaptation, and sharing (even commercially) of works under its domain, and it is recognized in the Ohio Revised Code. To incorporate the shapes and details, I first imported the SVG files into a 3D design software and modified them before printing them with my family’s 3D printer and covering them with Duck Tape. My brother’s tux was disqualified for unauthorized use of copyrighted material, so I am being exceedingly careful not to allow the same fate to befall me. The website, heraldicart.org, is a resource developed and maintained for usage by anyone, but specifically members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), of which I have been a member for a decade as well. This organization is dedicated to medieval recreation from all parts of (medieval) world history. I consulted with an armor expert as part of designing my suit and selecting the elements to include! All my accessories and armor pieces were crafted from various materials, including cardboard, corrugated plastic (essentially plastic cardboard), hot glue, plastic pipes, paper, and, of course, Duck Tape. I would also like to mention that my family was instrumental in the design process for the suit, continually making new recommendations for details and accessories that kept me crafting nearly right until the submission deadline. The first part of the suit I created was the vest, woven from individual rings of machine-cut Duck Tape that I spent countless hours meticulously cutting and taping closed. I also created the suit and pants (having a professional seamstress grandmother undoubtedly came in handy), along with armor pieces that I attached in various ways. My favorite of the armor pieces is the breastplate, which I specifically contoured to the curves of the jacket, forming it as a sort of extended lapel. I made my accessories last: a lance, a saber, a belt, a hobby horse (to represent the cavalry aspect of the Hassar), and one of my favorites, the cravat. To make the cravat, I first made a long strip of Duck Tape before ironing the pleats into the tie and, of course, tied it. I love how the folds of the cravat encapsulate the tie pin/Polish emblem. In addition, there is a subtle heart cross detail around the belt and saber sheath and the tux itself, which is composed of 5 hearts. It is in part a nod to the frequent cross imagery in suits of armor and part a reference to the fact that I am the second of five brothers, something that will always be close to my heart. This tux has been in the works for a long, long time, and I am proud to finally display it to the world. Duck Tape and crafting are significant parts of my life and identity, and I am honored to have my submission as part of the 25th anniversary of the Stuck at Prom competition!
4 Rolls
16 Hours
The outfit was inspired by a series of drawings that I made. The outfit was a short vintage dress made from different shades of red and black material, which I brought to life using duct tape.
16 Rolls
33 Hours
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always enjoyed fashion and creating designs from unconventional materials. This dress is not only suitable for prom, but also for the runway. I was inspired to break the boundaries of traditional fabrics in the fashion industry. I made hundreds of triangles to decorate the dress and provide texture, by using a technique created for Duck Tape flowers. I was also inspired to showcase Duck Tape’s product transformation over the years by blending the original grey Utility Duck Tape with today's modern and colorful Craft Duck Tape to make something eye catching and unexpected. I am honored to be a part of the 25th Annual Competition.
7 Rolls
28 Hours
Although I wasn't inspired by anything particular while making the dress, looking back it reminds me of a rose which symbolizes love. After seeing the original version I made, it also reminded me of Miss Acacia’s dress from Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart, a movie I really love. For the photo shoot, though, I leaned into an entirely different vibe with a 80s prom aesthetic and flare.
42 Rolls
97 Hours
After joining the band in the sixth grade, I developed a passion for playing the french horn. This passion for playing grew as I entered high school and joined the marching band. For the past two years, I served as a section leader in the marching band, performed in fall and spring concerts, and was a part of the pit for our school's musical productions. This year, my love for music deepened even more when I joined the jazz band and started to play trumpet. My tuxedo is inspired by my love of music and the instruments that I play. Within my design, you will find french horns, trumpets, mellophones, and even the baritone- an instrument that I am learning to play for my senior year.
13 Rolls
45 Hours
My piece was inspired by the beauty of nature. In our modern age, it is easy to be trapped behind a screen and hidden away from nature. My piece is a reminder to step outside, and an urge to keep fighting for our planet. Through my dress, I ask for people to donate their time and money to organizations like The National Park Foundation to help save our planet.
15 Rolls
120 Hours
My Inspiration stemmed from my senior year prom dress and the empowerment it brought me. So, I wanted to create a dress that exemplified this through my color choices and design choices, such as the corset I crafted for the bodice, or even the pleats that add volume, which represent how much I've grown throughout my high school years. I also added roses, which are often seen as a symbol of beauty, to create a sense of femininity that ties into the empowerment I felt while wearing my prom dress.
19 Rolls
48 Hours
I was planning to do several layers initially however I changed it due to barely being able to move due to the weight of the dress. First I measured myself and found a rubric print for my dress. Next I cut out fabric to use as a base for the tape and covered the fabric in the tape, after this I would cut off any excess tape. I then began putting the pieces of the dress together with tape, and I added a red rim to the bottom of the skirt, as well as adding ruffles in the pin glittery tape and attached it using plastic clothing tacks. Next I created a waist band for the skirt and I made constellations with little gem stones. I added velcro to the back of the top and the skirt and began making a necklace out of tape using a four strand braid. Lastly I made a Saturn bag by covering a styrofoam ball in tape, creating a handle, and sculpting a piece of aluminum foil into a ring for the circle and I covered it in tap, to attach the ring and the handle to the ball I used small clothing pins.
21 Rolls
132 Hours
For my Stuck at Prom design, I created a royal futuristic inspired tuxedo, complete with a crown, scepter, rose, and a royal cape. At first glance, it may appear as simply a bold fashion statement, but every detail is layered with personal meaning, symbolic intent, and heartfelt tribute. The color scheme, primarily blue and gold serves as a unifying thread that ties together my heritage, my future, and my values. These colors represent two major inspirations behind this design: Ukraine, the homeland of my mothers side of the family, and Lakehead University, my next academic journey. The blue and gold evoke the Ukrainian flag, a powerful emblem of resilience, freedom, and cultural pride. In recent years, Ukraine has become a global symbol of courage and resistance in the face of adversity. With this suit, I honor not only the enduring spirit of the Ukrainian people but also my own connection to a legacy of strength and perseverance. The royal motif speaks to sovereignty and the right of all people to live with dignity and pride. Every golden trim and intricate pattern channels the beauty of Ukrainian embroidery and historical regalia, blending tradition with a futuristic twist. With the future in mind, this design also celebrates my upcoming chapter at Lakehead University, whose school colors mirror those of my suit. Attending Lakehead signifies a turning point, a leap toward higher learning, innovation, and athletic pursuits. The structured design of the suit reflects the discipline and confidence I aim to carry into my academic career, while the cape’s dramatic flair represents creativity and self-expression. The gold geometric embellishments, and floral patterns throughout including those on the back of the jacket, echo the patterns of growth and progress like branches or flowers of knowledge extending outward capping off in an emphatic bloom of skill and knowledge once my education journey is complete.
20 Rolls
96 Hours
As I finish high school, this dress reflects my personal growth and cultural pride. This handcrafted two-piece ensemble, made entirely from duct tape in bold colors (yellow, blue, red, white, purple, pink, orange, green, brown, black, and gold), symbolizes my Colombian roots and my family’s Canadian journey. Each rosette took over 20 minutes to construct by hand, with real coffee beans as centers for texture and cultural meaning. Emerald-like jewels added contrast, while everything else was shaped from duct tape for form and movement. The ruffles mirror my flag’s colors, tying the piece to heritage. The corset was the biggest challenge, achieving a custom fit with only duct tape required lots of trial and error. Completed in over 96 hours alongside academics and extracurriculars, this project tested my creativity and determination. The final look included a duct-tape coastal hat, Joropo shoes, and a flower hairpin. More than wearable art, this dress tells a story of perseverance and identity, proof that tough threads, like duct tape, can create something beautiful. I’ll carry this lesson forward. Thank you to my mother, sister, Mrs. Kane, and you, the reader, for your time!
7 Rolls
13 Hours
My mom suggested the kilt based on my passion for drumming and I approved because of my fascination with Celtic culture. We chose traditional colors for the kilt and I used what was left over for the shirt and jacket.
8 Rolls
25 Hours
The inspiration for this outfit was 1950’s fashion. I looked at dresses from that time period, took my favorite features, and then incorporated them into my design. After I finished the dress I used the left over tape to make matching gloves.
