Peyton Manker was disappointed when the pandemic led to the cancellation of her prom. While quarantined at home in Sparta, Illinois, the teen decided to enter a “Stuck at Prom” contest that invites high schoolers to create formal wear using duct tape instead of traditional fabrics. The contest winner is set to receive a $10,000 scholarship.
It wasn’t difficult for Peyton to find the inspiration behind her design: the coronavirus itself.
“I chose to represent how the coronavirus affected not only us, but the world through artwork I created myself,” she wrote on Facebook.
Peyton spent four arduous months creating her 50-pound masterpiece by hand — using 41 rolls of duct tape. She also made a matching anklet that reads, “This too shall pass”.
On Facebook, Peyton described each panel of the colorful dress, showing respect for front line workers and essential workers, and also the issues of equality and racism: “The front left panel design represents those on the front line such as doctors, nurses, janitors, postal workers, police officers, construction workers, the military, grocery workers, restaurant workers, firefighters, etc. For the front middle panel, I created a man who represents mental illness during quarantine whether it be due to isolation, worry, fear, or even being affected personally by the virus. The front right design is meant to be a virtual 2020 graduation through a video chat”
“The back left and right panels are meant to be one design. It showcases a woman infected with the virus as well as a man trying to protect himself from it using his mask as a shield. The final panel design represents the world trying to run from the virus both figuratively and literally. Other nationalities can be represented through the clothing.”
Watch the video below to see her beautiful creation.
Footage provided by KTVI St. Louis
Source : https://www.littlethings.com/teen-formal-dress-duct-tape/