Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 5, 2007

CORAL HARBOUR - You could literally read the minds - and many other body parts - of a number of contest participants during Coral Harbour's 35th anniversary this past month.

Judy, 14, and Christina Angootealuk, 12, from left, model an evening dress and parka their mom, Lizzie, made for a contest in Coral Harbour this past month. - photo courtesy of Lizzie Angootealuk

The contest invited residents to create a fashion statement using only tape, newspapers and garbage bags.

Lizzie Angootealuk decided she'd design an evening dress and accessories, and a parka, using copies of Kivalliq News and Nunavut News/North.

The evening dress won Angootealuk fourth place, in addition to keeping people up to date with current events during the contest.

The dress was modelled by Angootealuk's daughter, Judy, 14, while another daughter, Christina, 12, modelled the parka.

Clara Ell won the contest with a parka and wind pants made out of garbage bags.

Angootealuk said the contest has been ongoing for the past few years during Hamlet Days in Coral.

She said this was the second time she entered the contest, and she has a lot of fun being creative with her newspaper designs.

"The contest is open to anybody and you see some really impressive outfits each year," said Angootealuk.

"There were quite a few made almost entirely with garbage bags this year, with newspaper used for the fringes.

"Everyone was talking about newspapers before the contest, so I thought only newspapers could be used, but, it turned out that garbage bags were allowed too."

It took Angootealuk about half a day to make each item with newspapers and packing tape.

She said the models put the garments on just before judging, and take them off immediately afterwards before things start to fall apart.

"They were both fun to make, but I enjoyed making the dress more.

"I just really enjoy making stuff and I found creating a newspaper dress to be kind of cool."

Angootealuk said it's too early to tell whether she'll be in the contest next year.

She said it all depends on what's going on in her life, and how much free time she has when the contest rolls around.

But, if she can, she will.

"I'd like to try again because I misunderstood this year and thought garbage bags could only be used for designing little strips here and there on the outfits.

"The garbage bags are easier to work with, but it's more challenging to make an outfit out of just newspapers.

"It's actually tough to find newspapers in the community before the contest because everyone is after them to use on their outfits."