I had always liked pink—until they told me I was supposed to. In elementary school, I decided I hated pink and that green was my new favorite color. Growing up with only brothers, I felt like the odd one out. I rejected princesses, pink, and the idea that I was meant to be the one rescued. I wanted to be different, a feminist, someone who didn’t need sparkles to feel strong. What I didn’t realize was that by pushing away anything “girly,” I was buying into the idea that femininity was weak. It wasn’t “cool” to be a girl. After years of self-discovery, I’ve embraced the part of me that really does love pink—and even wants to be a princess. My dress reflects that transformation. It’s inspired by the very princesses I once dismissed, complete with a crown, intricate jewelry, and a flowy skirt made of countless layers of ruffles. I loved designing it and letting myself geek out over fashion, because femininity is powerful, too. But the dress wouldn’t be complete without what truly defines me: my faith. Jesus is at the center of who I am and what I build my life on, so I made Him the foundation of my design. I incorporated Psalm 23 into the dress by cutting out all 122 words of the passage in Duck Tape using a crafting machine and hand-placing them across the front layers. I even included the verse reference on the ribbon of the bow. This dress is more than just pink and pretty—it represents my journey of reclaiming femininity and rooting my identity in faith. It’s a reflection of who I truly am, inside and out.

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. 

Swans are often regarded as symbols of romance, strength, and elegance and are seen as majestic creatures. My main inspiration for the dress was swans, and I wanted to showcase those characteristics throughout the dress.     
I created the shape of the dress inspired by princess gowns and wedding dresses, since both are elegant clothing that represent class and romance, while the fancy details gave it more of a fantasy look. The top of the bodice I made using duct tape feathers to represent swan feathers, and I added a shield to represent self-strength. For the bottom part of the bodice and belt, I went with a more armored look to not only show power but also because love and romance are something that takes a lot of courage and determination. The common saying, "Unless you want to heart broken, you should protect your heart," also inspired the shield.
My accessories are the scarf and the fan, because fans are the stereotypical regal accessory, and the scarf makes the outfit look more regal. 

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!

I am a graduating Pioneer High School senior, future Ferris State Bulldog, and proud creator of (probably) the world’s first duct tape tuxedo that transforms into a racing suit.

My design pays tribute to my idol, Japanese racing legend Keiichi Tsuchiya - known as the Drift King. Like his unique driving style, I wanted to take something fast and functional and make it stand out from the rest. The tux starts as a full racing suit, but with a flip of the collar, it transforms into an outfit worthy of prom night. Underneath, I wear a white dress shirt and checkered flag bow tie, both made from duck tape.I made the driving gloves from duck tape, decorated the helmet to imitate Keiichi's, and created a 3D boutonniere incorporating a small trophy.

Pursuing this project wasn’t just about trying to win a scholarship. To me, it was about mixing passion with purpose to help fund my future goals. I’m heading to Ferris State University this fall for a BS in Automotive Engineering, with dreams of working in performance motorsports, and possibly moving across the world to be in Japan, the heart of tuning culture.

That’s where the Duck Brand comes in. I’ve proudly and painstakingly incorporated your logos throughout the design because I’m hoping that by taking first place, you’ll be the sponsor that helps me shift into high gear. I also made sure to reach out to the Ferris State Marketing and Communications Department, who gave enthusiastic permission to use their logos in my creation.

So thank you for making a tape strong enough to stick my dreams together. I may be “Stuck at Prom”, but with your help I’ll be racing into the future.
And a fun fact - my brother was a Tux Runner Up in 2021, so entering is now a family tradition! 

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. 

Hi! My name is Brittany. The inspiration behind this dress came from my childhood love for Disney princesses and the joy of dressing up. As I begin adulthood, I find myself reflecting on the wisdom my parents shared: "Don’t wish to grow up too soon." It's a gentle reminder that life is about cherishing both our past and the dreams of the future. In creating this dress, I sought to embody the magic of the princess I dreamed of being as a little girl, hoping to bring to life something she would have adored. I believe we can all hold onto that childlike wonder, and it's a beautiful journey we undertake together.

Now, let’s dive into my princess wildflower-making adventure! I took on the challenge of crafting a flowery gown in a dizzying array of colors: baby pink, baby blue, navy, white, and gold. Each bloom took a solid 15 minutes to create alone. Armed with squares of duck tape and a bit of origami finesse, I fashioned unique tape floral creations.

Next up was the dress structure. As the flowers piled on, I began to question if I was making a dress or preparing for a floral funeral! I constructed a skirt with enough flower volume to function as a parachute, then glued the blossoms into place, hopefully leaving no gaps.

Then came the upper body, which felt like a scene straight out of The Hunger Games—with duck tape! Draping my mannequin in tape and glue, I designed a pink corset that was part fashion statement, part adhesive nightmare. To top it off, I made DIY earrings with fringed gold tape and mini roses. For the bouquet, I simply tossed some roses onto a used duck tape roll—because why not? I had 49 of them!

Thank you for taking a look, and I hope you love my creation as much as I loved making it!

My outfit was inspired by the strength and elegance of an Incan princess, honoring my Peruvian heritage and the roots that have shaped me. I wanted to let that part of me shine because while this dress reflects my past, this scholarship could help light the way to my future. I used every tool I could find: hole punchers, scissors, zigzag cutters, and more to bring the details to life. Goo Off Adhesive Remover became my best friend, and I’m still finding tape stuck in random places around my house. Every piece of this dress was made with heart, creativity, and a whole lot of patience.

My duct tape prom suit was inspired by the vibrant culture and traditions of Africa. I drew from the iconic Kente cloth, known for its bold colors and geometric patterns, which represent African heritage, pride, and identity. Using duct tape, I recreated these intricate designs and integrated them across my entire suit: jacket, pants, and accessories.

To deepen the cultural significance, I incorporated Adinkra symbols from West Africa, each chosen for its powerful meaning. Some of the symbols on my suit represent initiative, fearlessness ("I fear nothing but God"), good fortune, and greatness. These values guide my life, and wearing them gave my design a personal and purposeful message. Every detail was crafted by hand, using only duct tape, to reflect the spirit of African art and storytelling. Through this design, I was able to connect with my heritage and express it in a modern, original way.

My suit is more than just a look; it's a celebration of culture, identity, and creativity.

The ocean has always pulled by interests. Its colorful, whimsical, and mysterious. The creatures that live there defy what is possible on land. Each creature and coral was designed by God and placed exactly where they need to be. The beauty of His creation draws me in and inspires most of my art projects, including this dress! Just as the beach leads into the ocean and then into the deeper ocean, I made the dress to reflect that journey in each layer. Each layer is beautifully detailed on its own, but you need all the layers to tell the full story of this ocean journey! 

My dress is inspired by the artist Romero Britto. I like his use of bright colors and fun patterns. I wanted my dress to have just as many colors and patterns as his art has. My goal was for my dress to be unique, runway worthy, and push the limits of prom fashion. Somewhere between grade 7 and 8 my friends mutually agreed that bright colors and fun patterns where out, except me I still like having color in my every day outfits as I think it adds life to the outfit and is away to express my happy vibe.

Faith. Family. Freedom. These 3 words define my inspiration in designing this suit. As a Mexican-American, I am proud of the heritage and culture both nations have instilled within me. For the style of my suit, I used a mixture of traje de charro de gala grecado and mariachi. The charro gala suit is one of the most elegant traditional Mexican attires. I intertwined the colors of the American and Mexican flags along the sides of the pant legs and edges of the bolero jacket and vest utilizing an ancient Greek meander. The fish, cross, and dove I embedded in the Greek meander represent my Christian faith. The intertwining of these colors and symbols exemplifies how my faith and both cultures have played a role in defining who I am. Much like the monarch butterfly, my identity is cultivated by both Mexico and this great nation, the USA. The monarch butterfly is highlighted on the belt, belt buckle, bowtie, sombrero, and suit jacket.

The beginning of this dress had many inspirations. The size and drama of 18th Century French Rococo, the femininity and frills of the porcelain dolls I collect, the ridiculousness of Barbie's princess outfits, the monochromatic haunting colors and shapes of Tim Burton's artwork, the vintage yet edgy aesthetic of steampunk. But there was one inspiration, one goal above all others. I wanted this dress to be big. I wanted it to achieve what I could not, what I never managed on stage or at my own prom. I wanted the inability for it to fit through door frames, I wanted the inconvenience that came with an insane amount of glamor. I wanted the silhouette of a barbie in a cake-dress and the impracticality of a cartoon. Nothing brings me more joy than a large skirt, the way fabric flares out just so, the cutting shape it makes, the attention it draws. Making a dress as big as this had been a dream for awhile, but with the weight and gravity obeying attributes of fabric I never had the chance. After a few tests with duct tape though, the stiffness and weight gave way for my dream to come true, to make the biggest dress possible. I think I came through with this goal, making both a large, cartoony dress and matching my art almost perfectly.

Inspired by the vibrant colors of nature, I created a rainforest prom dress. My base design was a traditional green tube dress, but my ultimate goal was to incorporate a variety of shades, vegetation, and animals. Every time you look at my dress you will discover something new. Look hard. Do you see 5 amazing creatures? Hint: I’m the 5th! I love nature, I love this dress and now I really love Duck Tape! Thank you!

I decided to base the suit on my love of space. I grew up around Huntsville Alabama where the U.S Space & Rocket Center was located. And after constantly visiting the place I picked up an interest in the stars. The theme needed the perfect design to capture the grandiose beauty of “Space,” so I thought of a ringmaster-style tuxedo.

The Helix nebula that spans the back of the suit took quite a bit of time and was one of the larger "ideas" of the suit. Getting the transitions was very difficult but I think I pulled it off all right on my 3rd try.

The constellations were cut using a template and then applied randomly all over, while the gold trimming took some patience to get on just right.

The accessories include a hat, cane, pocket watch, shoes, rings, bow tie, and lots of love.

As you all can probably tell from the bags under my eyes this project stressed me out a little bit, but I'm thankful I got an excuse to branch off from a monotonous school year and make a duct tape suit. I had loads of fun trying to figure everything out and hope all the other competitors did too.

Thank you for reading all this garble and I hope you have a great day.

I designed my prom dress with inspiration from Jalisco, Mexico charro style and Folklorico dance dresses.

Inspiration for this outfit, a Charro, mainly comes from my Mexican heritage. Being from a Hispanic background and having relations with families of similar backgrounds, I found that a simple yet impactful nod to this was its form taken from these aspects which a Charro is typically seen in historical and modern Mexican tradition used by cowboys or horsemen. The technique utilized when creating this work was covering the initial materials used such as old clothes I no longer wore with layers of bright orange Duct Tape in random patterns. Keeping in mind where certain aspects of the clothes needed to bend which could be done but just not heavily layering these areas. Given the inspiration mainly aligning with Mexican heritage, floral motifs were added across the outfit to add character and fill in spots that seemingly were empty using a black paint marker. These floral designs would cover the cuffs, collar, hat, and sides of the pants where these accents would be above a thin lining of black masking tape. The torso mainly consisted of the same technique used for the pants however I left the under-shirt untouched whereas the vest and jacket were fully covered in tape. Both vest and jacket mainly were covered in tape and designs from a black paint marker with the jacket only having the addition of black lace lining the collar and down towards the bottom. As well as on the torso, a bow and flower made of cheetah print tape were added whereas on the flower the Duct Tape Duck logo was added which was taken from the packaging of the Duct Tape rolls. The main feature of this work is the hat, the Charro Sombrero, which was an actual Sombrero that was covered in repeated orange Duct Tape that retained all the same detailing of floral motifs and black lace where under the designs were accommodated by strings to be tied when using the hat made from cheetah print Duct Tape which was braided.

Butterflies have long been regarded as harbingers of good luck and positive omens in cultures around the world. Their ethereal beauty and graceful flight inspire feelings of joy and happiness, while their transformative journey from caterpillar to butterfly symbolizes renewal and the possibility of positive change. In honor of my grandmother, who passed earlier this year, this dress is an ode to her, crafted in colors that represent her grace, beauty, and spirit.

In many traditions, encountering a butterfly is believed to bring good fortune and blessings. It's seen as a sign from the universe that better things are on the horizon, that obstacles will be overcome, and that new opportunities will arise. Some cultures even view butterflies as messengers from the spirit world, carrying messages of love and guidance from departed loved ones.

Through the creation of this dress, adorned with the symbol of the butterfly, I aim to manifest this belief in luck and good omens. It becomes not just a piece of clothing, but a symbol of hope, resilience, and the promise of brighter days ahead.

Throughout high school, making clothes has been a really big hobby for me, with knitting, sewing, and thrifting being the aspects I enjoy the most. I wanted this to be an homage to crafting and clothesmaking that celebrates all three interests with a suit that was made entirely using duck tape, kitchen scissors, and some sewing and knitting needles. The blazer, trousers, and briefcase are all oversized and made of patchwork, meant to seem thrifty and secondhand. They all have big black stitches on them, meant to represent my interest in sewing. Underneath all of this, I am wearing a light blue hand knitted vest, made by ripping and folding several rolls of duck tape into yarn and knitting them.

I have been fascinated by Scotland and especially Scottish culture ever since I first saw Braveheart as a middle-schooler. For my 16th birthday, my parents bought me a tiny plot of land and I became a Scottish “Laird”. Since then I have owned (and worn) 4 kilts, both in various tartans and a plain utility. It seemed only fitting that I make one of my own out of Duck® Tape. This one is by far the most formal.

An era of flourishing gold, elegance, and pastel floral prints. This dress is inspired by 18th-century French art that I saw at the Getty Museum. I was captivated by the amount of gold and extravagant paintings they had on display. It was a time period of luxurious gowns full of lace, floral prints, ribbons, and ruffles. So I wanted to incorporate some of these elements into my dress. Fitting to the inspiration, I used the colors of pastel pink, white, and gold duct tape for the design of my dress. I decided to take inspiration from the Rococo era through my own personal interest in fashion. I am fascinated by clothes and how it has evolved through the course of history. Although we are in the 21st century, it doesn’t stop us from dressing up from any time period. I wanted to showcase a dress that reflects a glamorous era of fashion.

All of my family are from El Salvador and I wanted to make something to tribute that. In ancient times, both Mayans and Aztecs settled near El Salvador. I was inspired by the Mayan Gods, Kinich Ahau, the God of the Sun, and Kukulkan, the God of weather and life. I was also inspired by ancient Mayan clothing and motifs. I wanted to fuse the culture of the Mayans and the elegance and formality of promwear, without coming off as a costume. During quarantine, I started learning how to sew by making stuffed animals so I made one of the Kukulkan.

This design was inspired by music. Music has the power to evoke emotions, transport us to different times & places, and unite us with others. Because music is not just black and white, the mirror duct tape is meant to represent the way music constantly moves and changes. There are several instruments included in this design: piano, violin, tambourine, and electric guitar. The notes on the skirt are a measure from an actual song.

My tuxedo was inspired by steampunk fashion! I have always been interested in science fiction, so I decided to incorporate it in my look. The tuxedo, pants, and accessories were all made from scratch using paper, Duck tape, and some thin sheets of plastic. One of my favorite parts of creating this outfit was adding whimsical elements like the wings and gears on the clothing!

Fashion and art have always played a major role in my life. Since I was young, I've always had a strong passion for both, and the Duct tape prom dress competition was a great opportunity to show off my love for art and fashion.

When I was eight, my third-grade class got the opportunity to create a business and sell things for one week during lunchtime. Most of my classmates brought items from home to sell like buttons, pencils, and bookmarks, but I brought my own clothing sketches. I spent hours sketching out clothes, my favorite clothing item to draw was dresses. I added lots of color, glitter, and stickers. I sold my designs to classmates for a dollar per sketch and everyone loved them. This was an important moment for me because I realized that I loved fashion and I want to spend the rest of my life surrounded by it.

The inspiration for my dress was Vincent Van Goghs painting "The Starry Night." I chose this painting for inspiration because it has always been a very calming painting to me with its post-impressionism style and use of a blue and yellow color scheme. For my whole life, I have always struggled with a slight form of anxiety and when it ever became too much to handle, I would paint. Painting has become a great outlet to calm my anxiety, and I wanted to express that through this dress. When creating this dress, I wanted to have lots of texture. To achieve this, I painted various colors over strips of Duct tape, and then I cut them up and layered them on the dress until I got the finished product. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share my creation with you, and hopefully, I inspired some of you to use art as an outlet for some of your personal struggles or emotions.

My dress is a true reflection of my passion for art and for this outfit, I am drawing inspiration from two of my favorite art forms: fashion and architecture. To the renowned designer Issey Miyake, who incorporated beautiful pleats into the fabric, reminiscent of his famous Pleats Please Line from 1993. I wanted to demonstrate that pleats are possible with Duck Tape, although this was challenging and time-consuming, I am very pleased with the end result. The pleating technique adds a unique touch and brings Miyake's artistic vision to life.

I also drew inspiration from the captivating works of Antoni Gaudi, a talented Spanish architect. The mosaic pattern on my dress is directly influenced by Gaudi's artistic style, particularly seen in his masterpiece, Casa Batlló. The sleeve incorporates the intricate roof design found in his masterpiece. Additionally, the necklace emulates the captivating top edge of the roof in Casa Batlló.

I also wanted to capture the essence of Gaudi's architectural brilliance through the intricate mosaic design, adding depth and visual interest to my dress. Furthermore, I incorporated elements from Gaudi's iconic creation, the La Sagrada Familia church. The design in the back of my top is inspired by the church's stunning stained glass windows. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns of the stained glass are reflected in my design, creating a captivating and ethereal look, which was all accomplished by using different colors of Duck Tape.

By merging the artistry of Issey Miyake's pleating technique with the architectural splendor of Antoni Gaudi, my dress becomes a testament to my adoration for art while simultaneously showcasing the boundless possibilities that exist. Furthermore, I aspire to inspire other young artists to dream big, explore uncharted territories, fearlessly take calculated risks, and venture beyond their comfort zones.

I was inspired by modern and historic artwork of Samurai and Dragons respectively. I was also inspired by my father's sword collection that I often see when I walk past his office.

I hoped to combine my studies of herbalism, woodblock printing, and costume design to make an ethereal and modern piece. Herbalism informed my choice of flowers. The chrysanthemum that lies on my chest expels windheat nodding to its placement between my lungs and the association red has with fire and passion. In combination with the Chinese rose in the center panel, liver heat is expelled and blood flow is regulated. My passions grow instead of burn because I regulate my time and combine my approach to each study. Woodblock printing encouraged my understanding of the flower’s shadows and the order in which to layer colors. The time devoted to this art conditioned me for the time spent simply laying the tape. Following the ethereal concept, I found inspiration in Tang and Qing Dynasty clothing, as they seem to float without any wind and layer pieces effortlessly. The beauty of those times reached far past clothing, so I also showcased other art forms to honor the richness of the culture. As I am a mix of my Asian roots and my American reality, this dress credits everything that makes me, as if my own costume.

My inspiration was a rock-star-like outfit that incorporates retro 3-D glasses design. I wanted to create something with an interesting shape and look that mirrors high fashion. I like to be arbitrary.

I was going through a little bit of rough patch so I wanted to design something that was me. I wanted something colorful and vibrant; i've always loved 60's/70's clothing, so I stayed with that theme throughout the entire out. Starting with the polka dots, the flare gloves, the headband, everything. During the creation of this outfit it really helped me interpret who I was as a person. So, I guess I could say the inspiration for this outfit was me.

My inspiration came from the Yin and Yang theory. There's so much to uncover about this idea, yet it's symbol is portrayed in such a simple way. In brief, it illustrates the concept of harmony and balance between opposing forces. My dress exemplifies the well- known symbol of Yin and Yang. The lesson I have gained from this philosophy is how to build a stabilized and balanced routine in my life. I have an auditory processing disability which makes it harder to complete tasks promptly. Time management is crucial to my success. While maintaining a busy schedule, I have incorporated habits to level out the stress. Things like yoga, meditation, eating less processed foods, prayer, and daily exercise can help me accomplish the goals I have set for myself. Ever since I was young, I have loved the idea of showing who we are on the inside with what we wear on the outside. Clothing has the ability to transform how we feel and also influence how we make others feel. I have always aspired to pursue a career in fashion and hope this can be the start of something big.

I grew up as a tomboy and was sometimes made fun of for not trying enough to be girly. Being a tomboy was a result of me being close to my older brother. I have never really been in touch with my feminine side and so I never really liked bright colors or dollhouses and dolls. But in this case, I really wanted to push myself and try something new. I wanted to show that there is nothing wrong with having a masculine side through my piece. I wanted to show the beauty of masculinity and femininity when they are put together. This is why I decided to use the color pink which is seen as a more feminine color for my suit. As much as I wanted to try something new I still wanted to keep in touch with my true self. I couldn't leave my spontaneous tomboy side out of my piece, so I decided to make a suit instead of a dress. I created this piece in hopes that I could enjoy both the masculine and feminine sides of me. Although it took a dozen duct tapes and 30 hours. I am more than proud of the piece of art I was able to create. I am truly happy for the opportunity to present this piece to the world as well as the message I wish to share through it.

When I learned about the Stuck At Prom scholarship, I thought it was a fantastic way to dive into my creativity as well as represent my heritage. Being half Japanese and half Mexican, I have been given one of the greatest gifts of learning and experiencing different cultures. I was lucky enough to experience traditions with the Mexican side of my family, but I have not been able to do the same with my Japanese relatives. Since my grandparents in Japan haven’t been doing well, I thought it would be a good idea to make a dress inspired by Japanese culture. Kimonos, long straight seamed garments, are a symbol of Japanese culture. Many Kimonos include common symbols or motifs that each represent an important meaning, some of which I included in my own piece. A Kimono is clearly not one’s typical prom dress, but with the sense of identity represented through this garment, why go teenage typical when you can go Japanese traditional?

My inspiration for my duct tape dress was my younger self. When I was a kid, I was absolutely obsessed with duct tape! I have always viewed duct tape as more than something that held things to together, but as a unique artistic medium. Duct tape was a huge part of my childhood, in fact, I created something new almost everyday. Since a young age, I’ve dreamed of showing up to prom in a duct tape dress. Although my obvious health battles have gotten in the way of many events in my teenage life, I wasn’t going to let that get in the way of making my younger self proud. Over the years, I have collected HUNDREDS of duct tape rolls of all different patterns, including many retired ones. I felt like it would be very special to use these patterns people no longer see on the shelves into a beautiful creation I got to wear. Being able to display my number one hobby of my childhood, featuring just a fragment of my collection as well as my skill set, served as a great tribute. It truly is a dream come true!

In my life, I have struggled with a lot of anxiety. I wanted this dress to showcase the effect that anxiety can have on people, as well as my personal growth. Growing up and getting older can be nerve-wracking for everyone, and doing so in a pandemic is even more stressful. As I graduate high school and get ready to move to a bigger city to start university I am riddled with fears. What if I don’t like it? What if I chose the wrong program or the wrong university? What if I fail? These thoughts became the inspiration for my art.

The dress has been created in black and white to represent the black and white thinking style that is often associated with anxious thoughts. The gold rim represents the "silver lining" of life when you can realize not everything needs to be stressed over and that some moments are simply there to enjoy. The swirling patterns throughout my dress represent the way that your thoughts can spiral due to anxiety, often becoming larger and darker if you don't stop them while the necklace points to the feeling of being choked because of fear. The pearl decals on my dress symbolize wisdom learned through experience, balance, and a new beginning. All of which will eventually come in the future. Finally, the flowers on my dress show personal growth through hard times, and how you are forever blooming and changing throughout your life.

The inspiration for this dress comes directly from an important coping mechanism of mine. Ever since I was young, I’ve struggled with social anxiety which makes it hard for me to connect with others, which seems simple and easy to everyone else. My multiple panic attacks throughout the years have caused me to have a conflict with my own conscience. To escape these restrictive problems, I spend days outside, strolling in the local gardens and reserves, sometimes even around my neighborhood, whenever I have the chance. This kind of relationship has allowed me to immerse myself in a natural environment and often provides me with a new, tranquil view of my busy life. In turn, throughout high school, I’ve accomplished some of my best art pieces by observing serene environments, places that take me away from all of my copious worries and tenacious tensions. These places, as well as nature in general, has helped me combat so many of my life’s problems. I wanted to illustrate this with one of my favorite things in nature to observe: flowers. I know very well that everyone “loves flowers” but I find meaning within their beauty. The underlying meaning behind each specimen, with different colors, petal shapes, sizes, and history, they’re all so different and elegant in their own ways. As I scrutinize them, I enjoy learning about them, and what they resemble. I think that this has reminded me that I can stand out by just being myself and that I can be elegant by showing my colors as a person. The dress also represents the flowers of spring. Spring is an important season, it reminds us of new beginnings, our future, and who we as people want to bloom into. Going into college this year, the making of this dress has reminded me that I get a fresh new start in a bright new atmosphere.

I am a seamstress and an engineer. When those two skills combine, they lead to limitless creation. This tuxedo not only provided an atypical challenge, but also served as a unique, creative outlet for my most imaginative design. I wanted to break away from the typical dress and create something distinctive, inspiring, and empowering. The result, this tuxedo. The design came to me randomly in math class. The original sketch existing in the margins of my notes. Unlike my previous options, this design was eccentric, colorful, and ideal. I immediately began work, buying out the entire mint, transparent iridescent blue, gold, and shimmer mirror tape stock at Walmart and Michael’s. I was able to utilize my sewing skills to construct an advanced bodice and my first jacket. My engineering characteristics allowed me to easily find solutions to the inability to sew through tape, resulting in stapling seams. The process challenged my abilities and taught me the tricks to manipulating duct tape. The result is much greater than I ever imagined it would be, and I am proud to have taken on the Duck Tape Stuck at Prom scholarship challenge.

I wanted to go for something that would look nice but also give off a good message.

The United States Department of Agriculture estimates by the year 2050, there will be 10 billion people on planet Earth. This means it is so important in the present to protect and conserve our environment. Both land and food will be crucial in sustaining our population. My outfit was a manifestation of hope that humanity can become closer with the environment and our food sources to insure that we sustain such a large predicted population.

Greetings! For anyone taking time to look into my entry I wanted to say Thank You and I hope you enjoy it! Growing up with a humble upbringing meant we had to shop at thrift stores every once in a while which I personally wasn’t mad about. In fact I actually loved going to the thrift stores. I can remember times while I was growing up that my mom and dad would be playing awesome songs like “Heart Of Glass” by Blondie or “Dancing Queen” by ABBA and also “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth Wind & Fire. So it’s no surprise that while coming up with a concept for my tuxedo I wanted to pay homage to one of mine and my parents favorite decades, the 70s! I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of the nightlife of the time. The flashing lights, the bright colors, and of course the awesome music have always fascinated me. This garment comes with 44 alternating fringe pieces, leading down to 3 1/2 feet wide flared bottoms, and a groovy tuxedo fit for Tony Manero himself . Another piece of inspiration came from the idea “flower power”. Originally a term thought of by Alan Ginsberg in 1965 it carried its way into the 70s with its iconic groovy and floral designs. These elements are incorporated to the flared bottoms as well as the backpack and the boots. The back of the tux is inspired by a button-down that I thrifted with my mom and dad.

Since I was 5 years old I have always been fascinated with designing and creating. I remember spending numerous hours in my room crafting, sketching and designing many art projects. Designing things many people couldn't believe a child can do. My mother was always amazed at my creativity and attention to detail I had at such a young age. As I started growing up, duct tape gained more popularity in the 2010’s, I started becoming fascinated with making things out of duct tape. So I started making many things out of duct tape; like toys, clothing, mermaid fins, hair accessories and wallets. Including my school backpack that I would wear to school. When I heard Duct Tape had a scholarship I knew I had to make a special creation. I was inspired by the folklorico styled dresses that stem from both indegenous and spanish practices. The dresses are decorated with ribbon, flowers, and include a full flowy skirt. So I created a ruffled off the shoulder colorful folklorico flower gown. The gown is heavily detailed with flowers, Duct Tape lace, and ribboning to create the folkloric design. The gown was designed to honor my culture, helping me pay homage to my roots, along with making a beautiful dress for prom that’s made out of Duct Tape, something that many of my friends and family thought to be impossible.

Runways were my main inspiration. The 2 in 1 look and wings were inspired from various high fashion looks I have seen. The rest of it came from my mind. I had the idea of an angel and devil then kept going. The colours represent darkess, peace, the redness of blood that every person has, and richness of life (black, white, red, and bronze/gold respectively). The piece shows that every person bleeds the same blood and is capable of goodness, regardless of preconceived notions. I wanted to show the complexity and high fashion that can be achieved using Duck Tape. I even made moving wings with tape and paper. I tried to use the tape in unique ways and create a suit that has never been seen before. Thank you for taking the time to look at my suit!

When I first started my inspiration was the white academia aesthetic. I pictured this dress being worn in a big architectural baroque castle ballroom dancing to classical music, like the ones you see in Rome and Greece. Originally the dress was fully white, but I was also inspired in doing a black-on-white clash. I was inspired by the style and colors that you would find in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. A big part of the dress’s inspiration was the colors of ancient Egypt like gold, white, black, and turquoise/blue. Once I realized that a lot of the colors I was already using were similar to those of the evil eye I knew I had to add it in. The evil eye can symbolize multiple means depending on what cultures you ask. Some may say that it attracts evil spirits, others say that it can cast a malevolent gaze back upon those who wish you harm. I was inspired by both, but I would like that my dress reflects a malevolent gaze upon those who wish harm on me.

I was inspired by the human body and its complexities. I am thinking about becoming a Nurse Practitioner so if I win this would be a great help to pay for my tuition. One of the thoughts that was going through my head was that I want to make something no one has ever seen before. I wanted to make a statement and let others know what I truly am made of.

“The stitches done by a nimble hand

Colours built upon the history of my home land

Threads carrying a language that I long to know

I’m crafting my future

I’m wearing my home - Meihuan Yu”

I still remember the feeling of absolute sadness when my 8th-grade graduation got canceled. It wasn't the fact that I had to miss out on awards or socializing that made me feel heavy-hearted, but it was because I couldn't wear the very dress I spent 3 long months designing and hand sewing. Never would I have thought, during these long days spent indoors, that I would get another chance…….to make a very important dress.

Stuck at home and infinitely dreaming of travel, I realized that delving into the art of my own culture can provide the same feeling of exploration. Looking within Chinese culture, I was in awe and fascinated by the complexity of Chinese performing arts, especially a type of opera from Beijing called “jing ju”. Complete with brave masked warriors and powerful animals, I knew that a message of courage can be conveyed perfectly. With a pencil and my sketchbook, I started a process of visualizing courage.

My inspiration for my tuxedo was my home state of Iowa. I was born and raised in Iowa, and have much pride in that. Farming and agriculture is very big in Iowa therefore most of my inspiration came from that. The right leg having corn stalks, and the left arm having that classic red silo. Iowa is the number one producer in corn. Then the left side of the jacket and left pant leg is those classic farmer overalls, with a cowboy boot at the bottom and a flannel at the top. However Iowa is more than just farming, we also have some great creativity sprout from Iowa, like Grant Wood. I recreated his famous painting "American Gothic" on the back of the suit. Lastly, I added our states flag, because I love when I see an Iowan flag flying in the wind.

What do you think the most beautiful creature in the world is? To me, it’s peacocks, my inspiration for my outfit. Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved and admired birds because they’re so freeing. They’re able to simply take to the air when they please with such agility and elegance that many people even envy the creatures. Personally, I was even blinded by the world’s view of their material worth. It wasn’t until today when I got to meet them first hand that I fully appreciated how amazing peacocks really are. They’ve been targeted and hunted for their beauty for so long, their population is shrinking to the degree that they’re now endangered. That I could work with actual peacocks on this project and earn some of their trust was a truly amazing experience. However, it’s one experience future generations might not be able to discover. Loretta Lynch once said, “We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations.” My tux aims to show there are other ways to capture their beauty so that it’s safe for everyone.

For this dress, I wanted to create something that represents my culture and history. I am a Middle Eastern Muslim woman and I wanted this dress to showcase the beauty and extravagance of that part of the world. Over the past few decades, there has been so much misunderstanding and hate towards the Arab world and I want to take the attention off of that and bring people’s eyes to the art and beauty of my people. If there is one thing all human beings have in common, it would be our creativity and art. Wherever you go, you will find unique and beautiful examples of architecture, fashion, and cuisine. For this dress, I specifically chose to portray architecture and fashion. The mosque in the front of the dress was inspired by the Sheikh Zayed mosque located in Abu Dhabi. It is one of the most beautiful mosques in the world and it truly speaks to the beauty of Middle Eastern architecture. Creating the mosque was the most difficult and time-consuming aspect of creating this dress because I had to cut out every little piece and stick it onto the dress to make a perfect illusion of shadows and highlights. It is even more difficult to take photos because every little glare ruins the beauty of the piece. For the stars and patterns on the top layer of the dress and chest piece, I wanted to specifically represent architectural patterns you would normally find on the inside of mosques and Middle Eastern buildings. These designs consist of intricate detail and color, although most of the time the colors used are blue and gold. These patterns and designs can also be found in books, clothes, and everyday objects. The star design I specifically chose was also based on the Islamic star. I wanted a design that fit hand in hand with the mosque but that also offered a little simplicity for contrast. Lastly, for the headpiece, I was inspired by ancient Middle Eastern and Egyptian fashion. I wanted to create something that suited my hijab and the aesthetic of the dress. It was very difficult to create something that did both and it honestly happened by chance. I picked up an unused sheet of tape and began shaping it onto my head. I kept playing with it until I came to this shape and thankfully I was able to create something beautiful! Creating this dress was a huge challenge but I am very proud that I was able to create something that represents myself and my culture. Additionally creating this has allowed me to broaden my artistic abilities as I continue my love for creativity into art school this fall. I am so excited to create more things like this in my future because I know this is only the beginning for me!

I decided to create a dress inspired by the spray painted Robert E. Lee Statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. The monument embodies the clash of old ways and new ideas, so I embraced these conflicts in the design of my dress. The hoop skirt and corset style bodice are reminiscent of the antebellum era, while the brilliant colors of the graffiti on the skirt represent the modern era. The past and present merge in the front of the dress, but the back is left empty for the future generations. The chain motif on the bodice and the padlock necklace represent slavery and the continued suppression of people of color.

After spending the last 14 months learning online, my tuxedo is inspired by the technology that’s kept us all connected during the pandemic.

I’m studying Computer Science in the fall at Michigan Technological University. I incorporated a pixelated version of their mascot, the husky, on the back of my jacket.

Since prom was canceled this year, my tuxedo includes a virtual reality headset made of tape as well to virtually attend!

My elementary school art teacher was amazing! Her name is Mrs Casey. She was so passionate about the great artists and taught us not to be afraid to try anything, so we did. This year, my senior year, she was hired as my High School's Art teacher! She is the one who told me about this contest, challenged me and has always encouraged me to follow my passion. For my tuxedo, I wanted to use as many colors as possible and create my own piece of wearable modern art. I used all deceased Masterpiece Artists as my inspiration because I wanted my creation to be classy, fun and unique while paying respect to the great artists who have influenced so many! I have been accepted to Savannah College of Art and Design. The cost is $60K a year, I have spent the last couple of years entering various scholarship contests, working hard on grades and saving money but this scholarship has been the most fun and challenging for sure! It was hard, sometimes very frustrating and tedious but I kept pushing to not compromise the vision I had and I am so glad I did. One of the hardest and scariest parts was making my own pattern, cutting the intricate pieces and then making all of the final adjustments so the tux would fit just right (where the shoulders and arms met, were by far the most challenging). It was such a huge relief and so excitng when it all came together. The best part was sending her the pictures and video of the finished tuxedo. I'm hoping I made her proud because her passion for Art is what has made me choose Design as a career and I am so excited to be able to go to college to do what I love.

The coronavirus pandemic became my inspiration for my dress once it hit the USA and took my peers and I out of school and canceled our senior proms. I chose to represent how the coronavirus affected not only us, but the world through artwork I created myself. Also wanting to stand out, I designed my dress to be a large, paneled, ball gown style with ruffles at the top and many intricate designs. Such designs are the golden coronavirus accents on the bottom of the dress as well as on the pockets. The other intricate designs are showcased on the panels. Each is a work of art representing something different. To start off, the front left panel design represents those on the front line such as doctors, nurses, janitors, postal workers, police officers, construction workers, the military, grocery workers, restaurant workers, firefighters, etc. For the front middle panel, I created a man who represents mental illness during quarantine whether it be due to isolation, worry, fear, or even being affected personally by the virus. The front right design is meant to be a virtual 2020 graduation through a video chat. I created this design when a virtual graduation was only a joke among my peers but eventually, it became a reality for my classmates and I. The back left and right panels are meant to be one design. It showcases a woman infected with the virus as well as a man trying to protect himself from it using his mask as a shield. The final panel design represents the world trying to run from the virus both figuratively and literally. Other nationalities can be represented through the clothing. This better represents the "world". I realize that the coronavirus is not green, however, these colors better fit my color scheme and causes the dress to be more vibrant. The design placed on the top part of the dress represents social distancing and the six feet guidelines. As my final design, the face mask represents the curve and how wearing protective measures helps to flatten it which is why it is so important to wear them. A majority of my accessories are based on the coronavirus with my purse being an actual coronavirus! For the rest of my accessories, I made an arm bouquet with toilet paper accents to shed light on the lack of toilet paper during this time and the frustration people experienced during this shortage. I also made a hair piece with the words, " Separately Together", to let people know that even though we are separated, we can still get through this together. Lastly, I made an anklet spelling out, "This Too Shall Pass". The reason I chose to place this saying on an anklet is because it can be forgotten. It cannot be seen unless I lift up my dress. This represents how people may have forgotten that the coronavirus pandemic will eventually pass and everything will be okay.

I was first inspired to make a tux because of Marlene Dietrich, a famous actress who, after a movie in 1930, began breaking norms by wearing suits and tuxedos. The pattern and theme was inspired by my late grandmother, who was one of the kindest women I've ever known. She loved to quilt, so I wanted to incorporate patchwork. She also inspired me to begin crocheting and macrame, so I made rope out of duct tape to include macrame. When I was younger she would make blankets for our family, and would let me help her, which began my love for crafting. I put a lot of hard work into this tux, and had a ball of fun making it!

I was inspired by the night sky. Both the moon and the beautiful aura that surrounds it on cloudy nights are reflected on the skirt through the circular ombre pattern with a silver crescent center. Additionally, the delicacy of constellations inspired the negative image star mesh sleeves and the tape necklace and earrings.

Ever since a kid I’ve been very good with my hands. My mom always said I could take a computer apart and put it back together with my eyes closed. As I grew my hands on approach turned into a passion for creating. I explored every avenue art had to offer from robotics to drawing, pottery and building which eventually led to my desire to study architecture. In the fall I will be attending Abilene Christian University with a major in architecture. The cost of my school is approximately 50k per year and although I have worked hard throughout the school year and applied for countless scholarship we just don’t have enough to cover all cost. So, when I came across the Stuck At Prom scholarship contest that could assist with my need for financial assistance paired with an art “project” I knew this was right up my alley.
Quarantine threw a monkey wrench in the plans of many seniors across the world. All end of year plans were cancelled including prom which is a big deal to us seniors. We are able to express ourselves by choosing a theme, tux and dress. This contest still allows us to do that in an even more detailed manner. My tux took 105 hours and 25 rolls of duct tape. My Asian heritage was the inspiration behind my tux theme. Dragons and roses are very symbolic to asian culture so I wanted to be sure that I put a lot of detail into that part of my tux. Everything was hand drawn and hand cut but the most tedious part of my tux was the free-hand roses. Each rose took 30 minutes to make just right and there are 10 roses in total. To be sure I would be abiding by the “quarantine rules” I added a face mask with dragon detail. As you can imagine I hit some snags along the way but worked through them diligently and was very pleased with the outcome. To finalize my tux I wrote the word PROM in Chinese with duct tape. This project; at this point in time, helped me bring out my talents, creativity and patience. Also I gain more knowledge about my Asian Heritage. It is so satisfying to see all this come to light in this duct tape tuxedo.

I've been designing dresses since I could hold a pencil. For the Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest, I combined two designs I made for a fashion class I took; both of which were ideas for my future prom dress. However, I couldn’t decide which dress I wanted to wear more. What better than to combine them? I used the key elements of the ruffles from one design, and the false-front corset from the other. I also created all the patterns for the dress myself. For my colour scheme, I chose a classic princess pink, popping white roses, and a shiny gold to create a regal, yet fun look! I enjoyed every second of bringing my vision to life by creating my 100% duct tape prom dress. I am forever grateful for being given this opportunity. Thank you, Duck Brand!

For my prom Duck tape tuxedo, I decided to create something that was a symbol of the strife the nation, the world really, has been through this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I created a tuxedo that has a knight theme. Knights are known for their strength. They are also known for how they protect others and wage battle against the enemy. My school’s mascot is a knight, and as students, along with the faculty, we have engaged in a war against COVID-19. We have worked hard to protect our family from getting sick by sheltering in and not visiting them, like my Nana, for more than 100 days. Throughout it all we have exhibited strength in a stressful and dangerous time. Our senior year was altered by this all, yet we found ways to push through and celebrate the senior class’ achievements virtually. I incorporated various parts of what a medieval knight would wear including shoulder and knee armor, a shield on the back of the jacket, a gauntlet, and a face mask. I chose to use the grey instead of silver to make it look more like a suit. The maroon and blue are a tribute to my school as they are my school’s colors.

Originally, the idea behind this dress sparked from my grandmother’s favorite flower, the peony. I chose the colors of the dress specifically to match those of peonies as a way to honor her as she unfortunately did not live long enough to see me at my senior prom. Later in the dress-making process, I realized that my high school’s prom theme this year was supposed to be “The Rose Garden.” Therefore, I combined both of those concepts into a vibrant gown that illustrates the beauty, optimism, and serenity celebrated in the garden of roses and peonies; those flowers and colors act as a symbol of the everlasting youth found in the vivacious garden of life.

I created my suit to celebrate summer memories growing up near Lake Erie. On weekends, I loved visiting Edgewater Park or Huntington Beach. It was cool to see the Cleveland skyline on the lake, and I have also enjoyed many sunsets. One of my summer traditions was watching fireworks at a local park with family and friends. I wanted to capture the colors of the fireworks overhead. I spent many days during the summer visiting the Cleveland Metroparks, spotting wildlife like herons or deer. I wanted my suit to tie together the best moments and beauty of summer as a tribute for when I leave for college this fall. Many of the colors were chosen to reflect a warm happy mood, and I chose to use gold because I wanted to create a sense of light and elegance.

“Quaran’teen’ Queen!” was inspired by the historical event impacting myself and my class of 2020 peers. Social distancing requirements impacted multiple memorous activities like my 18th bithday, graduation ceremony and the senior prom. This scholarship opportunity gave me a chance to participate in a tradition that celebrates achievement and passage into adulthood. The Stuck on Prom contest was the perfect way for me to have a piece of the experience while potentially gaining funds to cover the cost of my UC college education. Quaranteen Queen exhibits the importance of following pandemic protocols while confidently remembering the importance of stopping traffic to smell the roses and spending time with the people you hold close to your heart.

The inspiration for this dress came from a bit of fashion history! I love the figure flattering shapes of the 50s and 60s, but with the glamour and drama of the 1920s. Additionally, I was inspired to create the weaving pattern from my heritage. I am a Guatemalan-American, and weaving is a big part of the textile industry in Guatemala. I've always wanted to try the technique, so I thought "What better time to incorporate it than into my prom dress?"

For my Prom Tux, I wanted to create a dignified and refined outfit that was easy to move in and visually interesting. I decided early on in the design process to create a southern style white tux because of the dynamic and stylish appearance, and I then chose to incorporate the patterns of a red and gold colored King of Hearts playing-card, as I felt that the elegant and familiar design would be a fun theme for my tux. Additionally, this theme was in line with the Casino Night theme of our Prom Party. All of the patterns and even the corners of the tux are based on the King of Hearts playing-card that I designed for my creative process with the notable exception of my Duck Brand Logo Western Belt Buckle, which is a nod to my Texan Heritage. The tux and especially the artwork on the back were extremely difficult and monotonous to make, as the white tape shows more errors and ensuring the symmetry of the double facing design was very strenuous. At prom, however, many of my peers did not immediately realize that my Tux was made of Duct Tape, much less homemade, which made the whole long endeavor worth it; I don’t think anyone else was as photographed as I was!

I was inspired by a small creek I have in my backyard. Growing up, the creek had blooming flowers and vines that provided beautiful scenery. The creek inspired my dress to have a soft, feminine look. I wanted my dress to be pastel and have floral and iridescent touches. The flow of the skirt also allowed the dress to have beautiful movement and move with the wind. The overall look created a great mood for spring prom, and all the elements of the dress worked together to create a cohesive prom dress.

For my Senior Prom I wanted to debut my persona “Chardon X”, a Paladin for Christ. Being accepted into a GA. College of Fine Arts and focusing on my career in Musical Theater & Drama, Chardon X is a character I wish to develop further and create a following for. Many pieces were balls of stuck together messes that lay on the floor! My initial test piece was by applying the tape onto already made clothing and failing miserably. I asked my mom if we could custom design and create my unique vision of a Gentlemen Knight. So together we discovered that the tape, once applied to a pliable material could be cut and sewn to create a custom-made suit. Refined details of basket weaving on the yoke and shoulders gives an illusion of armor. The shield of flames and blue flames are my representation of redemption. The vintage style vest with lace French cuffs and jabot all are my nod to a softer and humble servant of God. The lace was created of clear tape over paper doilies, then taped into cuffs and ruffles. The entire outfit along with embellished details of the back shield and boots were tedious and time consuming. Pattern pieces and shapes proved to be almost gymnastics like routine to allow the stiffness to be contoured into submission for sewing. The black on black, was difficult to get visual depth to truly show the craftsmanship but the sewn pleating and darting give a fitted shape with fullness to both the vest and coat, and the tape ultimately does hold its shape well. Entering prom, I received open applause which was exciting. Everyone was amazed that my tux was made of duct tape but knew with my “diffabilities” of autism and being different from most, as well as my antics on stage and around school that this was a challenge made with my name all over it. The feeling was incredible. I was truly excited to represent this creation made of Duck Brand Duct Tape. I think I lost 10 pounds in sweat while wearing this as it looked like I was thrown into a pool… but the whole experience was completely worth it and I’d gladly do it again for duct tape creates a new and exciting medium for on stage performing ~ and immediate repairs to props if need be on the fly. Thank you for this opportunity.

The inspiration for this dress actually came from Indian gowns and the movie “Mirror Mirror”. Although this dress doesn’t look Indian at all, it represents a piece of my culture. Being that I am hispanic, and my ancestors came from Spain, the red roses show a glimpse of Spanish dresses. I chose the black, white, and red color palette because it looks mature and adds confidence to the gown. The gold flowers contribute to its regality, and the red roses framing the back are a mix of delight and disdain, making the dress look fierce and feminine.

I wanted to combine professional design with traditional circus attire while preserving the ornate nature of that particular style.

The inspiration for this dress was honey bees! Bees are so vital in ecosystems and daily lives but quite often get overlooked. Without those little ladies pollinating our world, we wouldn't be around for very long. So to say thank you for all their hard work, pollination, and sweet, sweet honey, I decided to let them be the stars of this prom dress!

Mobsters suit

I didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress I’ll only wear once, so making a dress out of duct tape was the perfect solution! The design of my dress was inspired by the folkish ambiance and charm of the dance’s venue while also incorporating my own personal style. It has European art elements combined with a contemporary Eastern style. One of my goals with this dress was to look boujee but on a budget so I aimed to make it look like a real dress and not duct tape as much as possible.

The inspiration for my outfit was some of the show stopper tuxedos you see on the runway. I wanted to make one that make people's heads turn when you see them. I was going for a tight fitted and sleek design that fits well and looks nice.

Since middle school, I've dreamed of designing my prom dress from Duck Tape. This year Blake and I worked to make this a reality, taking inspiration from victorian style ballgowns and roses. The trickiest part of the dress was the sleeves, made from clear tape and covered with meticulously cut white roses and vines as a more subdued version of the main pattern. I also incorporated the hand cut rose and vine design in the purse, shoes, corsage, necklace, earrings, and hairpiece. My favorite is the necklace, which has such intricate curls that I was often asked if it was actually made from tape. The rows of ruffles added a princess-like flair, while gold accent pieces on the borders defined edges and tied it all together. Everything, except for the hoop skirt and shoes, was crafted completely from tape–even the French manicures on my fingernails! Though challenging to wear, it was such a blessing to feel such overwhelming support and to make this incredible memory. Thank you!

For my tuxedo, I wanted to create something that was classic, but also very unique. My tuxedo is a modern version of the timeless black tuxedo. I stuck with a two-color color scheme so that the colors wouldn't distract from the stipe pattern. The hand-cut lion design on the back was sort of a spur-of-the-moment decision. As I was cutting hundreds of gold stripes to go on the jacket and shoes, a show about lions was playing on the tv in the background. The lions on the tv inspired me to put the lion design on the back of the jacket. While the tuxedo is a very formal thing, I wanted to make it more fun and easier to dance in. Because of this, I chose to make sneakers instead of dress shoes. Along with the sneakers, I also made a boutonnière (rose on the jacket), cufflinks, and a bowtie to go with the outfit. While this was an extremely tedious and difficult task, I'm so glad I did it. 

As artists who have been looking forward to senior prom, we wanted to have unforgettable attire. Inspired by my school's prom theme of an "Enchanted Forest," the dress and suit incorporate whimsical trees silhouetted in front of a sunset with glowing stars above. The bodice of the dress is black duct tape with white stars. LED lights are strewn through the top layer of the skirt for the twinkling effect. The colors throughout the suit and dress are solid overlaid with triangles and trapezoids to transition from one color to the next. The purse is a shooting star, and the corsage is a stargazer lily. Holographic mirror tape is used on the shoes and purse to represent the shine of the stars. As artists we are always looking forward to expressing ourselves in new and fun ways. Thank you for your votes!

As artists who have been looking forward to senior prom, we wanted to have unforgettable attire. Inspired by my school's prom theme of an "Enchanted Forest," the dress and suit incorporate whimsical trees silhouetted in front of a sunset with glowing stars above. The bodice of the dress is black duct tape with white stars. LED lights are strewn through the top layer of the skirt for the twinkling effect. The colors throughout the suit and dress are solid overlaid with triangles and trapezoids to transition from one color to the next. The purse is a shooting star, and the corsage is a stargazer lily. Holographic mirror tape is used on the shoes and purse represent the shine of the stars. As artists we are always looking forward to expressing ourselves in new and fun ways. Thank you for your votes!

This dress is a one piece, short black dress, with a ruffled skirt and strapless top. It has smaller flowers on the top of the dress and a larger flower pattern on the skirt. The top of the dress is cut in a triangular pattern.

When Baylee asked me to join her in this Duck Tape project, I had no idea the extent of what we were taking on, but it has proven to make the prom at both of our schools so much fun and extremely memorable! My tux and accessories carry further the rose and vine design of my date’s dress. The detail was all hand cut with an exacto blade and both the rose covered jacket and gold metallic vest are completely made out of tape--down to the handmade Duck Tape buttons and fully functional pockets! My pants have usable pockets as well, along with a set of thin belt loops. My accessories include a black belt, a patterned necktie that can actually be tied, shoes with the gold vine design and Duck Tape shoelaces, a rose boutonniere, and a decorative hat which provided a fun prop during photos and at our dances. All of these items added detail and polish to the overall creation, making it an experience that I’ll never forget!

My dress was originally based on the Phoenix and the brilliance of its rebirth. However, as I kept returning to the structure of the dress, I decided that I wanted to test the bounds of duct tape-make it look like anything but duct tape. I wanted it to flow and have really nice texture-something different from what I’d seen, so I decided to construct an interlocking duct tape chain mesh, that acts as fabric and adds fullness to the skirt. This also allows it to conform to my body. The texture is created using hundreds of duct tape feathers cut by hand and taped to the chains. There is also an inner lining that acts as a slip. The top was made using thin pattern paper with duct tape placed over it, with the back straps held together via velcro. In total, I can say, other than those two things, my dress is entirely duct tape. It combines the femininity of a bird with the ambitious flames of fire and comes together to represent my design- one based on both ambition-and style

I wanted to create a suit that portrayed my personality while also having a sharp yet clean look. I believe my suit did just that. The colors are flashy but not overwhelming and work very well together. The design was relatively difficult to create. I cut each of the 750 triangles individually and carefully placed them together on every aspect of the suit, as seen on the coat, lapels, vest, pants, and accessories. The accessories include a hat, glasses, bow tie, handkerchief, boutonniere, wallet, and shoes, all of which incorporate the triangular design (or a complementary color). The hard work and time put into this suit made my prom such a wonderful and positive experience as I was able to live my dream of going to prom in duct tape. The last 7 months of designing, creating, and executing this project have been a blast, and I greatly thank Duck Brand Duct Tape for this opportunity. Finally, thank you for your votes! I greatly appreciate your time and support! Thank you!

Several years ago, I helped my dad make a wedding cake by molding fondant into hundreds of little flowers for its decoration. Now, I was able to use that skill again but with Duck Tape in creating each of these flowers by hand. The color scheme is harmonious with vibrant green, red, and yellow, paired with a light pink and white. The dress is shapely, beginning with an off-the-shoulder top and ending in a mermaid style cut along with a slit, not only added for the stylishness it brings to the design but also for the ability to move about once in the dress, haha. The backside is laced followed by a flowered cape. For added flair, I crafted a flower crown for my hair, leafy high heels, a flowery clutch, a rose corsage, and even red nails with yellow detailing. Thank you!

1. My prom's theme was "Around the World" so the first thing I thought to myself was that "Hey, I love my country, how do Incorporate that into my project" and I think that from head to toe I hit that feeling of patriotism that I was aiming for. 2. The hardest part of the project wasn't working with the material, but rather locating the specific color or design of tape needed to complete the project. Not every store stocks up with all the shades and prints that are available. A great example is when I was creating the shoes I wanted them to have a little more contrast so I decided I wanted to use a white sparkle duct tape, which took me trips to 4 different stores just to locate a single roll of it. 3.What surprises me the most is that whenever I mentioned to somebody that it (The tuxedo.) is made out of duct tape they are flabbergasted and amazed that such a feat can be achieved with duct tape and duct tape alone. Thank you for your consideration Sincerely, ~ Nicholas Matawa.

Emily has known since the age of ten that she was going to make her Prom Dress out of Duck Tape®. This year's Prom theme provided the perfect opportunity, which was Enchanted Gardens. We created a beautiful dress that balanced a strong geometric pattern with a colorful, painterly, field of flowers. The geometric pattern was created using 1/8th of an inch strips of black tape to create a hexagon grid, with a solid black center. The dress, pants, lapel, purse, and shoes were united with the hexagons. A variety of solid colored tape was used to "paint" the flowers. We created a woven texture in the vest to provide visual interest and balance the strong lines of the jacket. A hexagon purse was an absolute must! We built it out of foam core and decorated it to match. While the outfits took a lot of time, we are glad that we stuck with the idea! It was a great reward to receive so many compliments at Prom! We hope you enjoy the look! Thank you for the votes!

After watching two friends make dresses last year, I decided to give it a try. I love lace and incorporated it into an over skirt on top of the dark purple dress. I created a sheet of duct tape that shifted in color from lilac to white and made a stencil to cut the lace design. It took a long time and was the hardest part of making this! I also added some "gems" all over the dress with the sparkly duct tape and a hole-puncher. The corsage was made with rainbow tape that I fell in love with at the store. I also used that tape and the sparkly silver to make earrings. This was a lot of fun to make and thanks to everyone for their support

We made our outfits to fit both of our very different styles, yet still match. Brandon is someone who's more laid back and often wears hats and plaid shirts. So, we made sure he could pull off a casual look with a print and still get to wear a hat. His full outfit, as well as mine, is fully made of duck tape, right down to the buttons on his shirt. Both of our outfits were based on my love for flowers, but he can't deny that he likes the colors. My dress fits what I always dreamed my prom dress would look like: long, flared and colorful! My love for jewelry and getting my nails done also shine through with my duck tape earrings, necklace and nails. Any free time that we had on our hands, we worked on this, even though were both very busy people. A lot of time and effort was put into this and were both proud of our prom outfits and love showing it off!

Our prom attire was inspired by the vintage-modern style of steampunk. We wanted to create a costume that appealed to both of our Renaissance loving selves, and wow everyone at prom. Each of the tiny gears sprinkled throughout our design had to be meticulously cut out. We used about seven pages of gears! The skirt includes alternating ruffles to create a bustle and train in the back, and mini skirt in front. To give the illusion of a shirt and corset the color white was repeated on the top and in the ruffles at the waist. We decided to opt out of sleeves for the jacket and instead make bracers to add flair. The hat was made from poster board then covered with duck tape. Other details include our steampunk goggles, the epaulettes, and alternating cog colors. The theme of prom this year was "Vintage Travel" which was unknown to us when we were designing. We fit right in with the decorations! This was an exciting experience and an amazing way to end senior year with a bang!

Our design is inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge at night. After experiencing the striking architecture in person last summer, I was compelled to create a piece of art that represented what I saw. My dress was built on top of a mannequin made out of duct tape, stuffing, and determination. I created it to my measurements, so the dress would fit perfectly. For the suit, most of the construction was done using a base layer that was continuously cut and reshaped to fit. We wanted our look to be geometric and architectural, so the elements of design we focused on most were line, shape, and color. The area in which this architectural motif is most evident is the back of McKinnon's jacket and the upper part of my skirt. The colors we used are representative of the red bridge, black night sky, and silver stars above. The lines of our ensemble express the bridge's geometric angles, while the shapes represent the structure itself. We hope you enjoyed our design as much as we enjoyed creating it!

My outfit is a classic vintage design. We wanted something that was beautiful and elegant and could stand the test of time.. You just can't go wrong with traditional black with red and white. We tried very hard to come up with a Duck tape design that hadn't been done before and that was very hard. We didn't want to create something that looked like a costume. We wanted elegant clothes that we would really wear if they were fabric. As we searched the internet, we didn't find any high waste tail coats, and we hadn't seen any tape lace or bouquets of roses. The bulk of our time was spent on the lace and flowers. It took us several tries to finally come up with a rose that we felt looked like a real rose. Prom was a "sticky" situation because so many people wanted to talk to us and take pictures with us. We weren't quite prepared for that publicity. It was quite funny, and very fun. So we managed to satisfy our fans as we stuck together and saw it through.

Our prom attire was made in honor of my elementary school teacher. She always saw my creativity skills and told me to pursue my dream and have fun! Sadly, she passed away my 8th grade year from cancer. The gorgeous lace on my dress was cut out of tape sheets and placed on clear duck tape to imitate real lace. The flowers at the bottom were cut and pasted because I wanted my prom dress to have flowers last year and couldn't find one, so I made my own! Noah's vest and jacket has the same lace cutout pasted onto it. All the lace took a lot of time but was worth it! It added depth and detail to our outfit for the night! He kept his simple black shoes while I had black and white taped heels that rocked the night! Everyone was jealous of them! His white undershirt was also completely constructed of duck tape which stood as a backdrop for his polka dot bow tie and lace vest and jacket. I believe my teacher, Mrs. Stockburger would be extremely proud of how far I come and of this dress.

Both of us are space nerds, so what better way to end the year than by dressing ourselves like the solar system! What happened was that we goofed and fell on the entire selection of duct tape at the store so we had to buy everything. Just kidding, but we did use almost all the colors that Duck Tape offers. One features a sun with planets cascading down the dress and the other features the 8 planets of our solar system in an impressionistic style, see if you can find them all! There's also galaxy print tape and silver stars made from some cool holo duct tape strewn throughout the dresses. For our shoes, one pair has classy clear duct tape ruffles while the other represents a pair of space ships, complete with textured flames. We have some nice duct tape curls in our fabulous hair and our umbrella was made with fashionable matching colors. Thanks for coming along with us for this ride, the dresses were super fun to make and we hoped you enjoyed them as much as we enjoyed wearing them!

The inspiration for these dresses went back and forth between Egyptian Goddess and then finally to Victorian(ish) Queen in the end. All the lace patterns are hand drawn and EVERYTHING is ducktape. Our objective was to make the bold patterns shine by placing them on simple silhouettes. Making the dress took a very, very long time but this has been the coolest experience and we have both really bonded over the process. We hope you like it!

These dresses were designed to complement and contrast one another, like dusk to dawn. Jamie's dress had bits of color shining through the overlain black lace that they painstakingly cut over the course of several months. Jenny's dress had the inverted scheme, black peaking through the colored lace.
Jamie has wanted to participate in the Stuck at Prom Competition since she was in 7th grade, when she first started making duct tape wallets. When she asked Jenny to join her in the endeavor, she couldn’t have imagined how hard it would be. They put their blood and sweat into this project—literally, it is possible that there is blood sandwiched between layers of tape. Through all of the late nights and cramped hands, the two of them accomplished what they had started to think was impossible. They couldnt have done it without the help of their friend Sam Murray, who also took pictures for them.
They are both proud of what they managed to do. Jamie hopes her 7th grade self is too.

Though looks might be deceiving, every piece pictured, except Ruben's white shirt, are made of Duck Tape. Though we did use other material to add certain features we desired, including Velcro closures so that the garments can be worn again and again without suffering any damage from cutting and re-taping when securing them. Our inspiration began with my and Ruben's Hispanic heritage. Although both of us were born in the United States and are generally separated from his Mexican or my Basque culture (mine from several generations), we both felt better connected with our culture when researching the beautiful clothing for Hispanic celebrations. Our color scheme, skirt shape, and neckline shape were modeled after traditional Basque festival attire. While the hand-trimmed gold floral detail was inspired by the intricate lacework on Mariachi Charro vests. The corsage and hair accessory were loosely inspired by salsa dancers and the popularity of roses in Hispanic design.

After using Duck tape to decorate Jenna’s crutches and make a shoe for Noah’s art class, the idea of making Duck tape look like actual prom attire was a fun challenge. From the very beginning, we both shared the same inspiration and vision for the ensemble. The theme for our prom was Paris, which is fashion-forward, bold, and elegant. This is reflected in Jenna’s mermaid style dress with cascading ruffles, modernized lace, and the classy clear back design. It is also reflected in the bold choice of glitter pink for Noah’s suit collar, tux stripe, and the two-toned vest with inverted lace. We chose the youthful color scheme and implemented glitter Duck tape into the design to modernize the lace’s classic style and give the outfits our own personal flair. We accomplished our overall goal, as many people could not even tell that our outfits were made out of Duck tape! This scholarship opportunity was a unique experience for us both and we hope you enjoy it. Thank you for your votes!

The inspiration for these outfits was originally nature and flowers - however, as the design came into existence it became more of a "Willy Wonka meets Todd Oldham 80's/early 90's" vibe, as my uncle Daryl described it. Using only solid colored duct tape made it possible to create original patterns: the dress, pants, and vest have a striped gradient that is also included in the pinstripes on the jacket. The tuxedo stripes are repeated on the side of the dress and pants, the back of the heels, and on the lapels of the jacket. Some other details to enjoy: the green detail on the neckline of the dress is small rolls of duct tape patched together with (you guessed it) more duct tape! The corsage is metal wire with feathers and flowers attached. The bow tie is a real, tie-able tie! The open-back detail is four separate layers double-sided and cutout. To make a seamless design, the dress is taped shut above and below the open back. Thanks for voting and we hope you like it!

At first, we did not realize how difficult it was to work with duct tape, but that did not stop us from creating our masterpiece. Everything is entirely made from duct tape; the earrings, shoes, corsage, bow tie, EVERYTHING. The suit consists of a jacket, vest, and pants. I could not decide on whether or not to make a short or long dress, so I had the best of both worlds with the detachable skirt. Our inspiration came from figure skating and antique skeleton keys. The swirls figure skaters make are portrayed by the curling of the skirt and earrings with a little wire and the design on the heel of the shoe. We captured the intricate designs on antique skeleton keys with the cut-by-hand designs on the dress, vest, and shoes. The color choice is a representation of a deceased family member. Black is for the dark emotions felt, blue is representation of the sky, and gold is representation of Heaven. Overall, this process was extremely overwhelming and time consuming, but great experience.

We were inspired to do something that would stand out, so we went with a Victorian/Modern Day combination with a full, flowing skirt and a wrapped red bustle while working in the multi-colored slit. The suit jacket sports a gentlemanly tail complimented by matching cane, top hat, and pipe accessories. The entire ensemble is tied together with a recurring vine-and-flower pattern in different colors to give it vibrance and life. This completely duct tape outfit could grace the halls of a 19th century ball or a 21st century red carpet.

We were inspired by vintage romance meets red carpet fashion. The lace pattern has seven different flower and scroll designs to make it look like actual fabric.