Creative and Environmentally Conscious, Candi Sidoarjo Residents Celebrate Independence Day with Recycled Fashion Show

To commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, residents of RW 5, Taman Candiloka Housing Estate, Ngampelsari Village, Candi District, Sidoarjo Regency held a unique competition in the form of a fashion show featuring clothing made from recycled waste.

The fashion show, which was attended by representatives from ten neighbourhood units (RT) within RW 5, was lively. Participants confidently walked a ten-metre catwalk wearing a variety of costumes made from household waste.

Used materials such as bottle caps, plastic bags, paper and used beverage packaging were transformed into creative and aesthetically valuable clothing. The participants’ skills in processing waste received enthusiastic applause and full support from residents who packed the event area.

Chairman of the organising committee Julius Andri Cahyo Wasono explained that the activity was designed not merely as an annual entertainment event to enliven the August celebrations. More than that, the competition aims to educate residents to increase their concern for environmental sustainability and open up creative economic opportunities from the use of used goods.

To add to the appeal, the committee provided various prizes for winners and lucky participants. The prizes prepared included basic food packages, household appliances, fans, washing machines, and the main prize of an electric bicycle.

The series of independence commemoration events was also used as a momentum to strengthen ties among residents in the housing estate, because August celebrations like this can gather all housing residents in the field.

“At the same time, it encourages local economic turnover by involving local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,” said Julius on Sunday (23/8).