Fourth-year Ryerson fashion student Laura Shaddick crocheted a 50s style two-piece, made from audio tape on top and videotape on the bottom. (Dave Upham/Ryerson University)

High fashion can be made of household waste in tough economic times, says a Ryerson University student who created garments out of grocery bags, clear produce bags and VHS tapes as part of her thesis.

Laura Shaddick, 21, a fourth-year student in fashion communication, said Friday she thinks traditional handicrafts can be given new purpose and relevance in recessionary times and can be used to create fashion pieces that are beautiful but functional.

"In times of recession, waste is tolerated less, people have less discretionary income and innovation is on the rise," Shaddick said. "People recycle, reuse, recreate. Everything is redone and remade."

Her creations will give a new look to Ryerson University's fashion show, Mass Exodus: Chiaroscuro, to be held in Toronto next Tuesday and Wednesday. And photos of her creations will be featured in a student exhibition, (Missing) Link 2009, that opens this weekend.

Shaddick created three outfits out of household materials. One is white dress with a decorative bow, both made out of grocery bags. She used about 500 bags to make the dress. Another is a clear dress made out of produce bags and dry cleaning bags.

Audiotape on top, videotape on bottom

The third is a black two-piece outfit — a bra top with a short skirt — made out of audiotape on top and videotape on the bottom.

She cut the materials into strips or loops and made into what she calls "wool." Then she crocheted the materials, using additional household waste materials to bring them all together. Each outfit comes with a matching purse.

Shaddick was taught to crochet by her mother, grandmother and a family friend. She thinks the art of crocheting is becoming "scarce," and she hopes her creations will inspire other people to create art out of household waste.

Her thesis, which involved writing an essay as well as creating the fashion pieces, explored the question: "Can a gender specific and traditional art form, such as crochet, survive over time if given new purpose and relevance?"

Shaddick said the answer is a resounding yes, and she thinks it can be used to create "art fashion pieces of beauty, function, meaning and purpose."

She is one of five fashion communication students whose work will be shown on the runway at the fashion show alongside that of graduating design students.

Her thesis will be featured in the exhibition that showcases thesis projects of fashion communication students.

Her future plans include making accessories out of household materials that she might try to sell. "I love handicrafts," she said.