Pink is the new green as recycled fashion hits the catwalk

IT's a snazzy creation but wearing it may make you feel like rubbish.

Fashion students have used bin liners, stationery, broken records and charity shop finds to create stunning and quirky designs.

Not only are they designed to be "green", but they all feature a splash of pink, to show support for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

The students at Queen Margaret University are holding a charity fashion show on Friday, and hope to raise hundreds of pounds to fund vital research.

Organisers said they were keen to try something new, after a successful show last year and hit on the idea for "Pink is the New Green" to tie in with their support of the charity.

All the outfits are made from recycled fabric, plastics and metal, as well as remodelled clothes bought second-hand.

They include a ball gown made entirely from black and pink bin liners, with decorative "roses" on the straps. Another student sewed together dozens of second-hand men's ties to make a corset-style dress.

One dress, originally from a Cancer Research shop, has been jazzed up with sewn-on vinyl records. And a pinafore has been made of recycled envelopes, using the see-through windows as a wacky design feature.

Amy Mancini, a second year events management student from Portobello, said: "We were so excited when we saw the range of ideas. Everyone has been so creative. It's amazing all the different materials people have used.

"We wanted to support breast cancer research because it's close to all of our hearts. There are so many women in Scotland who have been affected by this disease. And we knew that pink is a very "in" colour this season, so we wanted to include it in our designs."

Claire Richards, another of the organisers, added: "We hope to raise as much money as possible to help make a difference to the 46,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer every year."

They are staging the event with two other students, as part of their course. A similar show last year was named Best Small Event at the Scottish Event Awards.

This year, guests are asked to bring along empty printer cartridges, old mobile phones and bras to be recycled to raise extra funds. There will be entertainment from the award-winning Loanhead Brass Roots and the university's dance society.

Professor Joe Goldblatt, who runs the events management course, said he was impressed by the students' work. He said: "This year they have been even more creative, and we expect it will be an even bigger success."

The fashion show is on Friday at 7:15pm, with tickets, priced 3-5, available on the door.