By Kirra Livingstone
WHAT Marg Enkelmann describes as crazy shenanigans, others call creativity and a bit of fun!
Marg is a cotton farmer of more than forty years, who lives in Silverleaf with her husband Peter, but in her spare time, she designs quirky clothing out of farming waste instead of throwing it away.
Back in 2005, Marg entered into a rural competition, in which she created her first piece, sparking her inspiration and passion in creating fun, sustainable fashion.
“I make fashion out of farm waste, I used to burn it all but when you look at it there’s twine and there’s plastic bags for seeds, there’s just so much waste,” she said.
“There was actually a competition going in 2005 at Biloela at the QRWN and I thought it would be fun, and I made an outfit out of cotton fertiliser bags, and I got nowhere but it was very fun.
“The next parade we had, I asked two of my friends and we went as Kath and Kim and their friend Sharon, and once the competition finished, and I was afraid I was hooked.”
Her fashions have featured at Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network (QRRRWN) events, flood recovery occasions, the Queensland Broncos Club, the Cotton Fibre Expo in Narrabri and in many other Queensland locations.
Now, the trash fashion designer has a total of 38 fabulous outfits made sustainably from cotton farm waste, and is in her 19th year of her unique hobby.
Marg described why she has continued this passion project, taking her to QRRRWN events and flood recovery occasions.
“It’s quite funny because often I have seen people waiting for a model that they know to come out and because their character on stage is so different, they don’t even recognise them.
“There’s no age limits; I’ve had a 90-year-old model, who was just as enthusiastic and wonderful as my 17-year-old models, and size and colour are nothing.
“It’s cheap fun and just a little bit crazy and what I find with older ladies is that they actually adopt it so well and it’s fantastic, it really brings out the confidence of all my models from all walks of life.”
The fashionista’s favourite piece she has created was funnily enough for a free Lady Gaga ticket from her daughter.
“I think my favourite would be a leather dress that I made out of tractor tubes, I made for a Michael Jackson outfit,” Marg said.
“We both went in outfits made out of tractor tubes, but the only thing I didn’t think of is my outfit had empty bullet shells on it, which prompted security to check my outfit but they eventually let me go.”
Marg is showcasing her fashion at this year’s Maleny Show. https://tickets.lup.com.au/maleny-agricultural-show-2024.
