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Niara Johnson, a freshman fashion merchandising major, was one of only five students chosen to receive a 2018 College of the Arts Flash Grant.  There will be a special reception on May 1, from 4:30 – 5:30 in the Rockwell Hall Atrium to celebrate her project, “Saving the World Through Sewing”.

Flash Grants are open to students from any major within the College of the Arts, but their team can be comprised of students from another major, school or college on the Kent Campus. The College awards grants of up to $600 to fund their research projects; Johnson was awarded the full $600 amount.

“Saving the World Through Sewing” is a project centered around inspiring others to recycle and reuse old items to create something new. Johnson, and team members, Oxana Dallas and Gealese Peebles, took fabric from old clothing and then weaved and sewed the fabric together to create recycled furniture. Peebles, a sophomore architectural studies major, helped design the woodwork of the furniture. Dallas, a graduate student with a background in crafts and textiles, helped take the pieces of recycled clothing and turned them into the fabric that was used to reupholster the furniture. Johnson helped clean the furniture, and then took all off the newly created upholstery and sewed it onto the furniture. Fashion School associate professor, Noël Palomo-Lovinski, mentored the team and advised them on their project.

“We hope to encourage creative thinking by showing our fellow college students that it’s possible to save the world through recycling. We hope students will be careful about purchasing goods from companies that choose to waste fabric and other goods that are harmful to the earth and the creatures who live upon it, and will hopefully inspired them to recycle old things and turn them into something new”, said Johnson.

“Saving the World Through Sewing” will be on display in the first-floor display case in the Rockwell Hall Atrium May 1 through June 20. There will be a special viewing reception and pizza party on Tuesday, May 1 from 4:30-5:30  in the Rockwell Hall Atrium to celebrate Johnson’s achievement. All are welcome to attend.

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Brittani Peterson, marketing associate, bpeter12@kent.edu, 330-672-2714