Model: Gabrielle, herself; Photo: Dominic Episcopo Gabrielle Casella gets kudos for recycling. She made this giant silver coat from a waterbed. "I found the bed in a friend's basement. They told me they were
going to throw it out," says the Temple theater major. "I had
a costume class where we had to make something that was a big
project - this seemed perfect." Casella, who sells many of her fashions at raves and is inspired
by the rave scene, recycles just about all of her designs. She shows me her rings, made from sparkly '50s pins, and her linked
choker, made from Lucite rings. Her coat, the design that caught our attention, might be water-resistant,
but as she found out, it wasn't cold resistant. "Before I lined it, I took my coat to Toronto and it was so cold
there, the coat stood straight up. It froze like the Tin Man.
I figured I better put lining in it." Gabrielle still has a little of the waterbed material left. "I think I'll make a bustier out of it," she says. click on the images below to view each designer's design and profile
Style Wars
Gabrielle Casella, 21, Temple University, Sophomore
Meghan Curry and Kimberly Bennett, both 22
Philadelphia College of Textiles, Seniors
Alodie Perez, 20
Philadelphia College of Textiles, Senior
Drai Dade, 25
Philadelphia College of Textiles, Junior