A nonprofit eWaste recycling organization is probably among the most unlikely Twin Cities groups host a fashion show. Unless robots are the ones working the runway.
Tech Dump held its first "Robot Fashion Show" at Can Can Wonderland in St. Paul Sunday as part of an effort to raise awareness for the organization's first summer cell phone drive. The robot models (who were actually just very creative humans) were tasked with sourcing used electronics to create avant-garde ensembles using everything from iPads and cable cords to lamp shades and film reels.
Jack Lasecke from Haunted Basement took home the grand prize with a a light-up steam punk outfit that she said took two weeks to create. When Lasecke first walked onto the stage, an inky, oil-looking substance started spilling from her mouth, making it appear as if the robot was leaking.
"The inspiration was that I'm the forgotten creation of a creator like Dr. Frankenstein," Lasecke said. "And it's angry and abandoned so it's lashing out at all the humans."
Lasecke and the other cyborgs competed in four challenges that tested the robots' beauty, strength, skill and strategy. After the runway show, they participated in a strongman battle, pie eating contest and a game of musical chairs.
"We wanted to raise awareness of Tech Dump and the summer cell phone campaign," said Tech Dump CEO Amanda La Grange. "And for an electronic refurbisher to do that, we needed something really different."
According to La Grange, only about 11 percent of cell phones end up being recycled. At the start of the show, audience members were asked to raise their hand if they had a spare phone sitting in a drawer somewhere at home. More than 50 percent of attendees raised their hand.
Tech Dump started their cell phone drive in June and will continue the collection through Labor Day. The organization aims to collect one ton of phones, which La Grange said has the potential to fund 1,000 hours of their job training program.
At the end of the evening, La Grange said that she considered the event a success and hoped to do it again next year.
"It was really fun to watch people take everything they had and put it to work," she said.
