Quality duct work
Contest sticks with NY teens
Stuck for what to wear to the prom? Try duct tape.
New York’s own Josie Authers and Jessica Ong, both 17, are two artistic teens who created entire ensembles out of the fix-everything tape. They are now finalists in the Duck Brand’s 24th annual Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest, competing to win $15,000 for college. “Fashion has been a really big creative outlet for me,” Authers, who created a multicolored patchwork tuxedo with a hand-knitted sweater vest, told The Post. “Throughout high school, I kind of became known as the girl who would knit in class,” the Manhattan student added, noting that she wanted to incorporate her hobby into the design.
The recently graduated high school student and avid knitter created her own duct tape yarn by hand in order to knit the ensemble’s cerulean sweater vest, which she said took multiple attempts to perfect. For the three months it took to create the finished product, her bedroom floor was covered in duct tape rolls, strips and scraps as she pieced together her tuxedo. It’s comprised of a wide array of patterns, including black and white stripes, green and white polka dots, pink plaid and mustard yellow patches. “I thought patchwork would be a very cool way to show off a bunch of different colors, a bunch of different patterns,” said Authers, who used 25 rolls of duct tape to complete the suit. “I decided on this because I wanted it to be very youthful, something very inspired by the kind of things I would make.”
Ong, who hails from Great Neck, opted to make a gown for her contest entry. It took her 98 hours and 36 rolls of duct tape.
“I’ve always had an interest in things like arts and crafts, which led me to explore other unconventional scholarships like the Stuck at Prom competition,” Ong, whose interest in fashion was first piqued during the COVID-19 pandemic when she began reselling clothes on e-comm site Depop, told The Post.
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The incoming high school senior paid homage to her late grandmother by incorporating butterflies into the design of the dress, adding blue butterfly wings on the bodice and skirt. “If you see the colors that I use for the dress and just what butterflies represent — the grace and the beauty — I just really felt that it embodies her grace and spirit,” said Ong, who also runs the Haven Heart Flea Market in the Lower East Side. Of course, with high-achieving kids comes proud parents.
At times, Ong’s had to hold her “accountable” when she procrastinated or wanted to give up on her gown. Meanwhile, Authers’ parents have been eagerly emailing friends and family to encourage them to vote for her entry. “My dad, in parended ticular, up hanging up this suit on the wall in the middle of the living room as an art piece because he’s very proud of it,” she said. “It’s almost become a joke that he’s more excited to show people the suit than I am.” The public can place their votes until July 10, with winannounced ners a week later.