Fashion and recycling collide in comp

Recycling is set to reach new heights in next year's Stretch Arts Festival Wearable Art Competition, with the addition of the new Creative Reuse Award.

Singleton textile artist and regular Stretch entrant Rosy Chalklen welcomed the new category, believing it would encourage entrants to expand their notion of what it meant to recycle.

In this year's competition, Chalklen took inspiration from desalination membranes and a washing machine, a dryer and dishwasher, all of which would typically go to landfill, for her two designs.

"There are so many possibilities and it's definitely rewarding," she said.

"I'm big on making absolutely everything from recycled materials.

"My husband hates it but it stops things going to landfill and can save money."

Chalklen said she was first introduced to the idea of using desalination membranes at a City of Mandurah-presented workshop showing how the nylon material could be recycled for art.

"It's really strong and cool to work with," she said. "Some are quite clean, but others are yellow and as you sew it you end up with layers of salt dust everywhere."

Chalklen said it took about six weeks to create one of the pieces and about two months to make the other.

Entries for next year's competition are now open, with more than $5000 in prizes up for grabs.

Early bird entries close on Saturday and final submissions end on November 30.

For more information, visit http://www.mandurah.wa.gov . au/wearableart.htm.