Photos of the Week: Fashion Takes Flight

On most days, airplanes are the only “runway models” at Pittsburgh International Airport. On Monday, however, airplanes weren’t the only stars shining at the airport.

On Sept. 30, PIT hosted “Cadence,” a fashion show featuring the collaborative effort of curator and producer Cat Burton and designer Cathy Trostle-Olivar on the ticketing level of the Landside Terminal.

“Cadence” is a fashion collection infused with storytelling and emotion. Inspired by the definition of “cadence” as a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase, this collection symbolizes the end of a chapter for Burton as she bids farewell to her twenties and paves the way for new beginnings in her thirties.

“Cadence” is the creation of Burton, a curator and producer at the confluence of media, fashion and art-focused experiences. In addition to serving on PIT’s arts advisory committee. Burton currently serves as the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s Creative Producer, where her role is to build new creative professional and artistic networks within the local, national, and international arts community and develop a strategic vision for multi-media, multi-disciplinary creative content.

The designer is Cathy Trostle-Olivar, a first-generation Latina-American fashion designer based in Pittsburgh. With a focus on sustainability, Trostle-Olivar’s designs aim to promote and advocate for slow fashion. Using materials like bamboo knit, deadstock fabric and secondhand fabric or garments to up-cycle, she creates pieces that are an alternative to fast fashion.

Trostle-Olivar is inspired by nature and exploration and has an affinity for flowers. Her work ranges from her everyday clothing line, Earth is Groovy, to The Sun God installation at the Phipps Conservatory’s 2023 Summer Flower Show, inspired by Billy Porter

The designs will be on display on the Landside transit level through March. The fashion show and displays are part of the PIT Art in the Airport program. PIT airport photographer Beth Hollerich captured photos of the fashion show and the new art that will be on display inside the airport.

Our readers continue to pass along shots of unique aircraft, international airports, historical events, gorgeous views, family vacation photos and yes, even the occasional fashion show for this feature. We love them! Keep them coming — you can click here for submission guidelines.