Artist-designed fashions wow Festival crowd

Artists vied for honors as eco-friendly fashion designers Saturday at the Festival of Arts.

Hundreds watched as models strutted down the runway in fashions designed by Festival of Arts exhibitors.

First place went to Luciano Bortone and Barbara Hendricks, for their design “Festival Diva — High Fashion,� made from forks, old Pageant of the Masters programs, soda can rings, bottle caps, bubble wrap, garbage bags and a hula-hoop. The pair won the $1,000 cash prize and also captured the hearts of the audience who awarded them the “People’s Choice� award.

Second place, with a $500 cash prize, was awarded to artist Bradley Elsberry’s creation “Survival Strategies for the Suburban Fashionista.� The design was fashioned from wine packaging, labels, foil wine caps, plastic Ralphs grocery bags and one old thrift shop bra.

Troels Larsen and Adam Neeley won the third place prize of $250 for “Green as the ‘NEW’ Green.� The dress was created out of banana palm leaves, giant bird of paradise leaves, king palm seeds, bouganvilla flowers, plumeria flowers, sago palm fronds, gold, gemstones and a $39.99 dress from the Salvation Army store.

NOTE: To view a slide show of all the fashions, go to Top Shots on this website or click to https://www.coastlinepilot.com/shared-content/gallery/?galleryid=2&gallery;_page=0&album;_page=0&albumid;=59&mediaid;=654