Devon Lizza discovered the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show through her mom’s friend’s daughter, when she was a high school student at Bend High, and never looked back! Now, a second-year student in the architecture program at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Devon has designed another spectacular piece transforming trash into an eye dazzling color experience!
What inspires your creations?
I have to say color. I think that color is just an inspiration in itself as it’s the one true way to bring life to something. When I start looking at garbage it’s always the color I am drawn to first followed by how to alter it into something unrecognizable. This sorta flows into the process for me as I want the end look to be nothing like what it’s made out of. I’ve designed with gum wrappers, chocolate wrappers, and kediri cups in the past and I always know I’ve done it right when people continually ask me “what on earth is this made of”.
How do you connect to the Rubbish Renewed mission – transforming trash and inspiring community for a sustainable earth?
Being a lifelong Oregonian and a student at UO with a sustainably focused architecture program, it goes to show I love this event for more than just the sheer ingenuity it spurs but also the mission and message behind it. I believe in sustainability being the future of the world’s success and that people can contribute to this themselves. I myself am a vegetarian and an avid thrifter, one because I love the things and secondly after I found out that those two things are single handedly the most environmentally positive impactful an individual person can do.
What is one thing you want to share with aspiring trash fashion designers?
My advice to aspiring designers is to just keep things interesting and design trashion garments with things you would least expect. Sometimes I have a little game in my head walking around that I challenge myself to imagine what type of clothes can be made from whatever odd trinkets and garbage I see. Keep people guessing what things are made of and ALWAYS keep a lookout for some color.
Come see Devon’s newest creation along with 45 other incredible garments created by student and adult community designers at the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, on May 20th at the Pavilion!
Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show 