FOLLOWING last year’s very successful fashion show, based on recycling of old but loved items, the Powys Radnor Federation of Women’s Institutes held this year’s fashion show at Knighton Community Centre – but it was one with a difference.

There were swishing rails of good but used clothing to take or swap and several side tables with handmade goods ranging from cashmere items to hand tooled wooden ornaments, but the main theme of the evening was WI members modelling their own creations, from second-hand goods purchased from local charity shops for no more than £20 to items dug out of drawers and backs of cupboards not worn for years, but suddenly looking like they could be reformed and relived in.

With 23 entries from 13 WI’s members were in for a treat. Many of the fashions on show were breathtaking in their originality of design and use of the materials available which also stretched to handbags, hats and jewellery, all refashioned or made anew from matching fabrics.

From a fun design of ‘Mrs Mop’ from the forties showing a cross-over apron and hair covering, to thick winter warmers of heavy jackets and skirts, imaginations had run riot and this showed in a beautiful sari purchased back in the early 2000s and modelled by Ann Clegg, from Chattterbook WI, which was transformed into an elegant evening or wedding guest outfit of trousers, top and jacket with matching bracelet and a ring woven with tiny beads and crystals collected over time.

Lyndsey Randell, of Whitton WI, modelled an outfit inspired by the catwalks of Paris, London and even Rome but this one was made from a single bed duvet cover and one pillowcase which morphed into a top and the oriental pattern inspired the keyhole cut-out at the neckline and the scalloped front edge.

The short skirt had a trailing back skirt which is essentially for swishing in the true sense, not as the aforementioned swap rail. All the outfits needed to be looked at both front and back but this one in particular did.

Llanddewi entered a dressing gown made and modelled by Yvonne Smith from a double quilt cover. The dazzling colours and original design of the duvet made the change over into a catchy dressing gown very attractive.

But, from the point of view of WI movement and the many actions they cover, the current one of SOS Save our Seas – Oceans in Crisis, the entry from Gladestry, modelled by Jess Squire, was an impressive, eye-catching garment representative of this plea.

As a group effort from Gladestry members, a pair of dungarees were made from a blue seersucker table cloth. Each member took a piece of fabric to create their own sea design which was then sewn onto the dungarees and this included coloured fish, turtles, sea horses and star fish.

The orange cloak represented the orange fish nets and caught up in this were objects found in the sea, like plastic bottles, straws, toothbrushes and other items which all cause so much damage and destruction to sea creatures.

Altogether, the show was a wonderful display of ingenuity, design and needlework which members are famed for. Members of the public affairs team provided a wonderful buffet of bread, cheeses and nibbles and the community centre provided a very welcome bar.

With the raffle and craft table sales everyone went home happy, and hopefully full of ideas for next time as there will surely be another transformation evening to show that the sky’s the limit for this particular theme – and all for under £20 per outfit.