Recycling fashion by Malou

Genevieve and Alyson model their mom's designs 

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Recyclable gowns made by a Fil-American were on display at the lobby of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center/Belk Theater for the premiere of the Italian opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi here in Charlotte, North Carolina recently. 

The gowns were designed by Malou Tabada Cordery who was asked a year ago by the marketing director of Opera Carolina to create the ball gowns for the premiere  and the finale of La Traviata.

Cordery who considers practicality as her guiding principle in designing clothes created two recyclable gowns and materials provided by the Opera Carolina.

“The gowns were made of paper, brochures and pamphlets from the Opera Carolina,” Cordery said and it took her six weeks to design both gowns which earned raves from those in attendance.

A lot of the attendees posed with the models Genevieve and Alyson Cordery, daughters of Malou Cordery, before and after the opera. These gowns were also worn by Cordery's daughters during last year's hit Charlotte Fashion Week show.

“I think making designs and executing them requires artistic talent. When you have a vision or an idea it requires skill to carry it out,” Cordery said.

Alyson Cordery

Her works have been featured in both the Elysian Magazine and the Opera America magazine. Cordery said designing gowns or any clothing should be practical, functional and wearable. 

Cordery said she likes to improvise and introduce different elements that add dimension, style or visual interest. The gowns she made for the La Traviata were appropriate for the setting of the play.

“I am really into details, and I love embellishing my designs. I try to go for the wow factor but sometimes you’ll try something out, or think you have a great idea and it doesn’t turn out like you thought it would, so you have to rethink it,” she said.

Her penchant for designing recyclable gowns came into fore because of her experience with arts and crafts. She did crocheting and designing with recyclables in her younger days in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. 

But it is not easy work especially since she has a family to tend to. Just like in any other passion, there are some things that come easily and one feels inspired to do it, she said.  

“Other times you have to overcome obstacles, like materials not working as expected. And of course there are always deadlines and juggling projects. It can be rather daunting at times, but it’s something that makes me happy and makes me useful,” Cordery said.

But Cordery would have you believe that she never had experience to cut patterns and use a sewing machine. 

“So I will cut a design using hospital lab gowns and then I use a hot glue gun to start adding textured materials and embellishments,” she said. 

Once she gets that sewing machine going, there's no stopping her from creating fashionable clothing out of ordinary items. “I call it upcycling. It’s like recycling but you’re using fabrics from Goodwill or the Salvation Army to make something original,” she said.

“It’s not as labor intensive as recycling. Last year I participated in the Color Me Goodwill Fashion Show in Asheville where I presented five upcycled designs and it was a lot of fun,” Cordery said.

Genevieve Cordery

When she became an officer of the Fil-American Community of the Carolinas (FACC) she kept busy making native costumes for Filipino cultural dances for a number of years now.

“I made Halloween costumes for my daughters when they were young and for children participating in FACC cultural activities. I have been actively working as a recyclable designer since 2011 and enjoy using my talents not only to showcase my daughters who enjoy modeling and fashion photography, but also using my designs to raise funds for charitable causes,” Cordery said. 

There is no telling where this petite mother would go as far as her designing passion goes and the same goes for her daughters. Speaking for myself, I am proud of Malou Tabada Cordery, a kababayan from Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental. 

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.

You can also connect with her through her email susanap.dennis@yahoo.com as well as her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)