As I stepped into the grand Hall of Sculpture at the Carnegie Museum for the 10th annual Green Voice Ecolution Fashion Gala, I was transported beyond mere aesthetics—I found myself immersed in a realm of empowerment, awareness, and transformation.
Produced with heart by Ronda Zegarelli, theatrically curated by Brian David, and presented by Huntington Bank, the evening carried the heartbeat of a collective ritual: a celebration of sustainability, creativity, and the divine expression of self through wearable art. This wasn’t fashion for fashion’s sake. It was 
fashion as soul work. Fashion as archetype. Fashion as an invocation of a future where we coexist more consciously—with the earth, with each other, and within ourselves.
The theme, L’ESPRIT D’INNOVATION, called in just that: spirit. Spirit channeled through recycled textiles, repurposed treasures, and bold visions that reclaimed both materials and meaning. Each designer offered not just clothing but ceremony—a sacred expression of identity, ancestry, and intention.
The night also offered recognition beyond the runway. The Ecolution 2025 Model Citizen Award honored the PIT Ohio sustainability team—Justine Russo, Taki Darakos, and Jim Maug—for their ongoing work in sustainable operations and corporate ecology. Their inclusion reflected a vital truth: that sustainability is not just high art, but humble, daily action. These are the unsung architects of our more mindful tomorrow.
The show opened with movement, as all sacred rites do. The dancers of Confluence Ballet Company, produced by Virginia Nicol and choreographed by Jessica Lilia, set the tone with a visceral embodiment of elegance and power. Hector Santos, dancer and model, moved to express a futuristic concept of strength, passion, and sustainability. DJ Soy Sos pulsed life into the space, crafting a soundscape that matched the rhythm of awakening.
One of the most powerful expressions of the evening came from 
Eva Dixon, Celestial Fantasy Fictional Worlds whose celestial designs seemed to channel ancient civilizations. Models adorned in golden armor, wiring, and luminous crowns conjured ancient goddesses and future queens. Using broken jewelry, circuits, and foam, Dixon blurred the boundaries between fantasy cinema and sacred fashion—creating a visionary space where femininity, strength, and surrealism met in radiant union. The towering models, Prince J Williams and Tanisha Thomas, exuded professionalism and grandeur, as if stepping straight from a Hollywood galaxy of celestial royalty.
From there, the energy built like a spiral—each design drawing us deeper into the truth that we are all multidimensional beings expressing through form. Michael Nolan Kouri’s Saint Michael, The Archangel, modeled by the magnetic Wanda Bread, redefined the runway as a battleground of divine reclamation. Crafted entirely from repurposed IKEA bags, this cobalt-blue angel of armor and wings embodied protection and presence—showcasing how 
everyday materials can become symbols of divine strength.
Christine CMC Bethea’s The Wabi-Savvy Samurai, modeled by Jaydin Linton, stitched together tradition and futurism, masculine edge and feminine grace. A patchwork kimono made of Bali cotton, paired with leather pants from vintage 1980s SFA, told a story of diaspora, identity, and cultural evolution. It spoke directly to those of us who walk in multiple worlds—East and West, old and new, grounded and transcendent.
Patty Gallagher’s Return to Rhiannon, modeled by MaKenna Galati, moved me deeply. This goddess-infused creation—with birds, branches, and moonlit shimmer—evoked the archetype of the wild feminine, the rebirthing mother, the mystic maiden. A dollhouse handbag added a surreal, dreamlike quality—a reminder that within our power, there is always room for play, wonder, and soft strength.
And then came the finale—a masterclass in drama and divine seduction. Brian David, the visionary behind the entire event, 
closed the evening with The Almost Zero Waist Dress, modeled by Joanna Wentling. A sultry nod to 1920s glamour, this gown of cascading red-and-black cotton ruffles celebrated the sensual, theatrical self. Brian’s background in couture and theater shone through every stitch, merging structure with soul, tradition with sensual rebellion.
What is described above is just a sampling of the many designers and models that drew from a deep source of creativity for this event. My deepest gratitude to all their commitment and work. As someone who works with archetypes, trauma healing, and embodied authenticity, I saw in this gala a reflection of our 
collective desire to reclaim the sacred in how we adorn ourselves. This event was not just about looking good—it was about feeling whole. It was about radical self-expression that honors the body, the planet, and the spectrum of gendered and genderless being.
In a world often pressed into conformity and separation, this space offered something rare: integration. Beauty met ethics. Art met action. Masculine met feminine. Earth met imagination.
Ten years into this living tradition, the Ecolution Fashion Gala is not just a celebration of style—it is a movement. A modern ritual. A place where we remember that sustainability begins within. That our bodies are temples of expression. That fashion can be sacred. And that, in embracing all expressions of self, we move one step closer to a world not only more beautiful—but more whole.
Tanya L. Kindel, PsyD.
