Cheryl Capezzuti was in her brother’s industrial metal fabrication shop when she looked down.

She realized she had found the material for her next art project.

“I saw shiny pieces of aluminum scraps on the floor that looked like glitter,” said Capezzuti, of Brighton Heights, an artist known for her large puppets made from recycled materials featured in the annual Pittsburgh First Night Parade. “I thought that glitter can be made into a dress. I am pretty excited by how it turned out.”

A model will strike a pose wearing Capezzuti’s sparkly apparel on Wednesday evening in the Music Hall foyer at the Carnegie Museum in Oakland. It’s one of the fashion designs for the sixth annual Pittsburgh Earth Day Ecolution Fashion Show .

The style event is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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This will be the first runway soiree for one of Capezzuti’s creations. Her colorful puppets are known for walking – and dancing — through the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh in the city’s annual parade to welcome the New Year. She was first recognized for creating art out of dryer lint and, most recently, sculptures.

She calls the piece “Industrial Sparkle.”

Her brother David Capezzuti owns Division 7 in Richland. Her nephew Isaac helped his aunt walk through the shop and gather the materials that are byproducts of when a CNC router is used to cut aluminum.

“I have been making things with crap no one wants for years,” said Capezzuti, who also fashioned a purse to complement the dress. “I love this material because it’s so shiny. It’s gorgeous.”

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Capezzuti is one of the designers participating in the show who has found ways to reuse and repurpose materials. Fashion can be wasteful. Trends come and go.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency measures landfilling of textile material in municipal solid waste, commonly known as trash or garbage. Landfills received 11.3 million tons of that waste in 2018.

The show, held close to Earth Day (April 22), has grown from its original space at the Fairmont Pittsburgh, Downtown. There is a VIP event in the Hall of Architecture.

“It’s a way to celebrate the city and garments made from recycling materials,” said Pittsburgh Earth Day founder Ronda Zegarelli. “The designs are truly show stoppers.”

This year’s theme is “Earth Matters Now: For the World We Dream Of & the World We Have Now.”

It will be emceed by the Green Voice’s Natalie Bencivenga (the Green Voice is a weekly newsletter offering stories of sustainability) along with WYEP’s Brian Siewiorek, and 100.7 FM’s Elista.

“Together we have a loud voice and we can spread the word about caring for our environment,” Zegarelli said. “Every step on the runway is part of a journey towards caring for the earth. It all begins with choices such as using and reusing materials or shopping at consignment and thrift stores to driving electric vehicles.”

On the Pittsburgh-based creative team for the show is Richard Parsakian, who owns Eons Fashion Antique, a vintage clothing and accessories boutique in Shadyside. He worked with designers to create wearable fashion.

Emilio Cornacchione and Gino Chiodo, principals of Izzazu Salon, Spa & Blowout Bar, will style hair and makeup for models from Docherty Model and Talent Agency.

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The show will feature Pittsburgh artist Randie Snow, music and dance performances.

“This must-see fashion show is an eclectic mix of Pittsburgh artists working together to continue the awareness and practice of sustainability,” Cornacchione said. “It is a way to create awareness through fashion. The earth matters now.”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit pittsburghearthday.org.

A panel of judges will determine the top four scoring designers who will receive a cash prize courtesy of Caesar’s Designs Fine Jewelry Creations in Shadyside.

Designers

Knotzland x Temper & Grit

Kat Belskey

Cheryl Capezzuti

Brian David

Katy DeMent

Carley Furlow

Lessa Kassler

Vicki Kerestes

Gregory Labon

KING RELD

Mad Recital

Mossy Lane

Randal Miller

Bradford Mumpower

Lana Neumeyer

Suz Pisano

Paulo Schifino

Randi Stewart and Jamie Miller

Suzanne Werder

CT Steele

X=f(X) at Sergery Design Studio

Pearlann Porter