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Amethyst Strickland
Inspiring Fashion with a Passion for the Environment
A passion for environmental issues and fashion inspired 16-year-old Pensacola resident Amethyst Strickland to combine these two interests into one worthy cause. Amethyst is teaching other teens how to transform thrift store finds into cutting-edge designs while promoting environmental sustainability. She is showing teensand adultshow to reuse and redesign clothes that may otherwise be discarded.
Through teen volunteer organization Chain Reaction, Amethyst learned about a grant that awards funds to programs promoting a conscious lifestyle and helping the environment in some way. She approached Chain Reaction Director Kristen Fairchild with her environmentally fashion conscious idea. Together they worked on a successful proposal that awarded them a grant that will help bring Amethysts idea to life.
Amethyst, Fairchild and a dedicated team of teen volunteers have been working to recreate 15 outfits for $150 from clothes purchased at the Waterfront Rescue Mission. The clothes will be shown in a fashion show on Monday, September 17th from 6-7 p.m. at the Chain Reaction monthly meeting at St. Christophers Episcopal Church.
"You dont even have to know how to sew," Amethyst says. She says that clothes can be dyed, patched and cut to make new styles that look like theyre fresh off the racks at trendy retailers. In fact, one of the teens created a vest for $12 that looks identical to a $350 vest from J. Crew.
Fairchild says that they are always looking for new ideas that will empower teens to make a change in the world and their own lives. Amethyst Strickland is a shining example of just how one person can make a huge difference.
To learn more about Chain Reaction and how to get involved go to www.mychainreaction.com. There are 560 teens ages 12-18 from 34 schools in Escambia County currently involved.
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