DUCT WORK: Sturdy tape inspires crafters, enthusiasts at annual festival

Thousands descend on hometown of world-famous Duck Tape brand

From left, Lisa Vulpitta, Marina Kahl, John Kahl and Randy Lear model their America themed Duck Tape dresses to the crowd during the Duck Tape fashion show at the 11th annual Duck Tape Festival on June 14 at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon, Ohio.

The Blade/Isaac Hale
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From left, Lisa Vulpitta, Marina Kahl, John Kahl and Randy Lear model their America themed Duck Tape dresses to the crowd during the Duck Tape fashion show at the 11th annual Duck Tape Festival on June 14 at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon, Ohio.

AVON, Ohio — This small city just west of Cleveland found itself in a sticky situation earlier this month as more than 50,000 people converged on Veteran’s Memorial Park for the annual Duck Tape Festival.

The heavy-duty tape is the center of a new craze among adults and children, who have taken duct tape from the garage and onto crafting tables and runways across the country.

The water-resistant sealing adhesive, created during World War II for use on ammunition cases, has taken on a new look and purpose. Originally available in silver only, duct tape now comes in hundreds of colors, patterns, and prints and is a daring new material for fashion, accessories, and home decor.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here for photos from the festival and reader-submitted creations made of duct tape

There are several brands of duct tape, including Scotch or 3M and Duck brand, which sponsored the festival. Crafters are mixing and matching all sorts of duct tape to create everything from shoes and dresses to wallpaper, necklaces, and wallets, with new ideas and uses popping up regularly.

Isaac Dandra, 8, left, makes a Duck Tape basket with his sister Hannah Dandra, right, both from Lorain, Ohio, at a workshop during the 11th annual Duck Tape Festival on June 14 at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon, Ohio.

Duct tape has even made its way to prom, with teens across the country using the adhesive to create high-fashion and runway-worthy getups. Perrysburg teens Nathanial Dobbs and Kathryn Dobbs used 40 rolls of tape and spent 93 hours creating their earth, fire, water, and air-themed outfits for the Duck Brand: Stuck on Prom Scholarship Contest.

Ms. Dobbs’ A-line dress represents earth and fire, with more than 300 blades of grass, flowers, leaves, and flames. Her brother’s wind and water suit featured more than 500 scales and swirls. They are finalists in the competition, in which the winners will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship.

Festival-goers traveled from as far as Ontario, Canada, for the festivities, which included carnival rides and games, vendors, and duct tape crafts. More than 340 people modeled over 250 kinds of of duct tape in a fashion show to set a Guinness world record. Fashions included American flag dresses, University of Kentucky pants, and Buckeye hats.

It was a sticky good time.

Contact RoNeisha Mullen at: rmullen@theblade.com or 419-724-6133.