Late last month, happy meal boxes became dramatic floor-length trains at in Miami Gardens. Hamburger wrappers were reimagined as tulle for flowing dresses. Even fry cartons were transformed into bold, wearable pieces.
The showcase was part of the third 鈥淢cDCouture鈥� runway show, a collaboration with McDonald's and the university鈥檚 fashion merchandising and design program, where 12 students spent the spring semester crafting garments from the fast-food chain's materials.
鈥淢cDonald鈥檚 uses a lot of products and equipment and they just waste a lot,鈥� said Tyquana Pearman, a freshman fashion design and merchandising major at St. Thomas University. 鈥淪o we鈥檙e taking it in and we鈥檙e revamping and just doing whatever we can to make it creative.鈥�
Pearman said creativity has always been part of her life 鈥� she even designed her own prom dress in high school. She said the task of creating the garment was intimidating at first.
鈥淚 was looking at the examples that they had inside of the fashion lab, and I was just in awe of how they managed to put all those pieces together,鈥� Pearman said. 鈥淏ecause you have burger wrappers, straws, cardboard boxes, you have a lot of materials and it's very hard.鈥�
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But she said the project has helped her become a stronger designer.
鈥淚 really learned your initial plan as a designer, it just never really goes so you're just going to start doing freestyles,鈥� she said. 鈥淓verything is probably not going to be what you thought it was, but everything just works out the way it's supposed to in the end.鈥�
South Florida McDonald's franchise owner Bryan Bentancourt and his wife, Stefanie Cabrera Bentancourt, told SA国际传谋 the first McDCouture event was held in 2014 in Miami Beach. It was originally conceived as a grand opening for a new McDonald鈥檚 location on Lincoln Road, and invited students at the Miami International University of Art & Design to create the garments.
But that plan soon changed.
鈥淣ow what we didn't realize was what came down the runway that first day,鈥� said Bryan. 鈥淲e thought, 鈥榳e got to take this to another level.鈥� It can't be just at our lobby, because these kids, they're talented 鈥� they just need exposure.鈥�
The following year, McDCouture made its debut at Funkshion Fashion Week on Nov. 5, where it gained recognition from and . And in 2017, the show appeared at featuring 20 swimsuits made with McDonald materials.
Stefanie emphasized the event鈥檚 鈥渞euse-and-repurpose鈥� mission.
鈥淲hat just a little imagination can do with something that will be trash to anybody else, it's really incredible,鈥� she said.
She said many of the materials used were sourced directly from the restaurant, including discontinued items that would have otherwise been thrown away.
鈥淭hey were able to use the sriracha sauce, which was something that had been discontinued, and make, like, a spiky dress out of it,鈥� she said.
Rood Lindor, a senior fashion merchandising major, was born in Okai, Haiti, where he said he first became inspired by the creativity and craftsmanship of Haitian garments. He also emphasized the importance of recyclable materials.
鈥淭he fashion industry is one of the most wasteful industries professionally,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t's good that we take care of our planet, and, you know, to be able to thrift, recycle, and, just to be able to use natural fabrics, natural products.鈥�
According to the United Nations, 92 million tons of textile waste are produced globally each year.
After the March 26 show, McDonald鈥檚 store owners voted for their favorite design, with the winner receiving a $1,000 prize.
This year, that distinction went to Ignacio Lopez, a senior majoring in fashion merchandising. One of the first things he did after winning was call his parents in Spain.
鈥淢y mother is an artist, so she was, like, super happy,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aking my parents happy is probably my biggest goal here.鈥�
