((PKG)) TOILET PAPER WEDDING DRESS
((Banner: Toilet Paper))
((Camera: Max Avloshenko))
((Reporter: Elena Wolf))
((Map: New York, New York City))
((NATS))
((RENALDO CRUZ, DRESS MAKER))
I think being creative. Just look around and you can find a lot of things to make and to do.
((NATS))
((RENALDO CRUZ, DRESS MAKER))
My name is Renaldo Cruz, but they usually call me Roy. I was born in the Philippines. When I was in the Philippines, I used to make gowns made up of indigenous materials, waste materials like coconut shells, dried corns, dried flowers, whatever I see around.
It took me a lot of time, hundreds of beads, hundreds of flowers. These beads, I rolled it one by one. I need to cut very thinly and glue all together one by one. In one square, I spent like 130 minutes every night. My sister told me, “oh my god, do you think you are going to finish that?”
((NATS))
((RENALDO CRUZ, DRESS MAKER))
My mom taught me how to sew, so everything I do, she is really my inspiration because I am so close to my mom. I am mom’s boy.
((NATS))
((RENALDO CRUZ, DRESS MAKER))
I was supposed not to join this contest because my mom is dying, so I stopped working on my dress. And I stop it because my mom is in the hospital. So, my nephew told me, “Uncle, you have to do this. Your mom will be happy.” And after a day my mom’s funeral, the nephew who told me to join, he died in a car accident.
((NATS))
And the winner of the grand prize for 2018 is Renaldo Cruz.
((RENALDO CRUZ, DRESS MAKER))
When they called my name, I was thinking, and when they said Renaldo, oh my God, I don’t know what to do. I mean this is like, are they correct? Did I hear correct? My name? They are calling my name? The grand prize? Oh my god!
((NATS))
((RENALDO CRUZ, DRESS MAKER))
I want to give advice to those people experiencing the loss or depressed. Just believe in yourself. Do whatever you want to do. Don’t stop.
((NATS))
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