Year 6 students Sophia Gawler (left) and Madi Philpott
Heidi Caesar was sweating as she stepped out in front of a hyped crowd of senior students, microphone in hand.
“I could walk in my underwear and I couldn’t care less, but it’s talking to people,” admitted the ESOL teacher later, referencing her deep-rooted fear of public speaking.
“I’m fine in front of kids, but adults – no.”
However, she bravely gulped down her fears last Thursday afternoon to MC Leamington School’s Wearable Arts Show.
Heidi was the mastermind behind the event, now in its second year.
From term one this year, she met with year 5 and 6 students in the hall every Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime to help them turn household junk into high fashion.
“I’m a really arty person; I like to be doing things with the kids all the time,” she said.
“I love their creative flair and that they have to think outside the box.”
The show attracted nearly 30 entrants.
Year 6 students Sophia Gawler (left) and Madi Philpott took top honours at this year’s Leamington School Wearable Arts Show with their soft-drink-can creations.
A dazzling array of whacky creations, modelled by their designers in front of a whooping senior school crowd, included outfits made from newspaper, mini chip packets, lolly wrappers and Post-It notes.
Year 6 student Ollie Holm stepped out in a dashing light blue suit made from blue medical masks, created with friend Liam Briones.
The pair won third prize for their dapper creation, which Ollie said had taken “a lot of hot glue and a lot of patience”.
Second place went to the “Caution Girls”, Lithuli Moraendage, 10, who worked on her outfit individually, and friend duo Charlotte Nofoa, 10, and Amelia-Rose Bubb, 11.
“It took us too many days and hours, probably like 200 hours,” said Amelia-Rose.
Charlotte, who has watched “a lot of fashion videos”, said the dresses were comfortable to wear and easy to move in.
However, the shiny Coke and Pepsi frocks worn by overall winners Sophia Gawler, 10, and Madi Philpott, 11, were at the other end of the comfort spectrum.
Each made of more than 100 soft drink cans, they were “very heavy” and so noisy they almost drowned out the audience’s raucous cheers.
Luckily, the year 6 students didn’t have to drink the soda themselves; Madi’s mum Jen appealed for cans through social media and Sophia’s grandparents scoured a retirement village and a bar.
The aluminium vessels were cleaned and dried before being cut into strips to make fitted bodices and strung together in flowing skirts. Can-tab bling finished each ensemble.
The girls said they were in it for fun more than winning, but Sophia’s dad, Andy, said both were “very nervous” before hitting the catwalk.
“It’s really serious, there were girls crying last year because they lost,” he said. “It actually means a lot to them.”
Sophia was delighted to win, but couldn’t wait to get the hefty garment off her shoulders after the show.
Heidi was also breathing a sigh of relief, having successfully braved the MC limelight and pulled off another successful event.
“Ah, I can sleep tonight,” she said. “I don’t have to wake up thinking don’t forget the safety pins and the black sheets!”
