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Cruise Ship Worker Designs Stunning Paper Bag Outfits To Pass Time In Quarantine.

Beverly L. Jenkins
Posted: June 21, 2020

When professional dancer Ashleigh Perrie signed on to work aboard a cruise ship, she thought it would be a great chance to see the world while earning a living on stage.

She took a job on the MS Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship that travels through Antarctica to South America. The Australian native was having the time of her life right up until COVID-19 hit in mid-March, forcing the ship to head out to sea for 60 long days.


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“It was definitely a very challenging experience on board,” Ashleigh said. “The entire ship went into lockdown, the company handled it amazingly — it was a very difficult situation that no one has really got any experience in handling. Our captain was brilliant. They did everything they could as fast as they could to stop the spread and to make sure all the guests were kept safe.”

The multiple quarantines, on-board illnesses, and general uncertainty took a toll on Ashleigh and the other crew members. By the time she was finally able to get back to her hometown of Perth, Australia, Ashleigh was desperate to see her family. Unfortunately one last quarantine lay ahead of her: two weeks inside a room at the Westin Hotel.

Every day her meals were delivered to her room in a paper bag. As they began to pile up, the dancer felt her creative impulses kicking in and decided to use the bags to keep herself entertained. The first thing she made was an evening gown she called,” Paper Bag Eleganza.”


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“All of the outfits shown have been created 100% from recycled paper bags, napkins, bio degradable containers, and disposable cutlery. They have been put together with the help of a pair of scissors, sticky tape, and a roll of cotton,” Ashleigh wrote on Instagram. Next came the “Bag-erina” outfit, featuring a paper tutu and cotton ball trim.


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Ashleigh made three more paper bag outfits, including “The Maria Paper-pova,” which even featured a paper tennis racket accessory.

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Ashleigh called this high fashion creation, “Queen Quarantine,” and it looks like it could have been torn straight from the runways of Paris or Milan!

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Last but not least, her “Paper Warrior” outfit is giving us some serious Wonder Woman vibes!


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Once Ashleigh was finally able to leave quarantine she shared the pictures of her creations on social media, where they were a big hit. “I’ve had great responses from everyone, just people appreciating how creative it was and how amazing it was to be able to do that when you’re locked inside a room for two weeks and you haven’t got anything else to do,” she said.

She’s enjoying the attention, but more importantly she’s glad to give people something to smile about during this challenging time. “I think a lot of people are seeing it as a positive in the whole Covid pandemic and something nice to look back on,” she said.


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What a wonderful way to keep her mind sharp during the last leg of an incredibly long quarantine period! Which one of Ashleigh’s paper bag designs is your favorite?

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