About Rubbish Renewed

Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show fuses environmental responsibility, funky fashion and community. Join other socially conscious individuals for an evening of sustainable fashion, showcasing styles that the future demands. We invite you to reconsider the value of trash and celebrate the creative, sustainable spirit of Bend. Started by two educators and rooted in a love of fashion, an appreciation of art and a passion for the planet, Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show is a fundraising event for REALMS Charter School. An eclectic, wearable art runway show, a live and silent auction, and a gallery style marketplace (where contributing local artists sell and showcase their work), will showcase how we “fashion” our lives while lessoning waste.

Sustainability Intelligence

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

I recently arrived back in Bend after several months of traveling abroad, hiking, visiting family, and teaching. Spending time in other countries stimulates my sustainability intelligence.

We walked 100+ miles in northern England of the Coast-to-Coast trail and observed the lack of trash along the way. In the UK “The Right to Roam” is embedded in the culture, and these pathways, even more broadly accessible in Scotland, have been used for centuries. There is a code of conduct to preserve these public accesses environmentally and culturally. And people follow it.

In Brussels, we spent Sunday, September 22^nd, World Car Free Day, cycling miles throughout the car-free boulevards from Watermael-Boitsfort to the Grand Place and beyond. A city of millions freeing all streets of cars for 1 day a year!

And in Reykjavik, Iceland all people and businesses are obligated to sort their refuse into 5 categories: food waste; paper; plastic; cans/bottles; and trash. In fact, it won’t be picked up if you haven’t complied. What they do with it after that I’ll save for another conversation.

These experiences inspire me to think in new ways about what we can do here at home, in our Central Oregon communities. It’s time to take action.

More on the Right to Roam:

Fi Darby – What is the Right to Roam in England

Gov.UK – Use Your Right to Roam

The Guardian – The Long Legal Fight for the Right to Roam England’s Countryside

More on World Car Free Day:

UN Environment Programme – World Car Free Day

Brussels Times – Most Beautiful Brussels Car Free Sunday in Pictures

Portland.Gov – Sunday Parkways

More on Iceland’s Waste Plan:

Recycling International – Recycling in the Land of Ice and Fire

The Reykjavik Grapevine – Making Sense of Recycling in Reykjavik

Umhverfis Stofnun – A New Law on Waste Takes Effect

Green by Iceland – Recycling Plastic with Geothermal

Community Action: 2024 Business Challenge Gallery Posted

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

In Bend, we have the power to create a holistic sustainable community. More than just action around waste, it’s about access to affordable housing, supporting local farms and food production, prioritizing employee well-being, creating green-spaces and access for recreating and habitat in these, shifting status quo policies surrounding waste and distribute items for reuse, establishing safe routes for biking and walking… The 2024 Rubbish Renewed Business Challenge participants are making a difference through local, community focused practices, that empower people, and ultimately contribute to a better world. It’s more important than ever to step up and get involved.

That’s why we love the Rubbish Renewed Business Challenge! We get to highlight the sustainable work of local businesses who take community action. Link to 2024 Business Challenge Garment Gallery.

Pictured: Bend Anesthesiology Group “AETERNUM”, ReStore “AMPED-UP EVERYDAY HERO”, Lonza “SCIENCE WEATHERS THE STORM”, Humm “TIDE TOGETHER“

This year ReStore, Gear Fix, Lonza, Humm Kombucha, and Brave Collective returned to the competition and Bend Anesthesiology Group, Jackson’s Corner, and Oregon Adaptive Sports joined for their first Business Challenge. They came together to celebrate sustainability, support Realms education, and compete for the Coveted Trash Trophy.

Celebrate environmentally conscious businesses by experiencing the 2024 Business Challenge Garment Gallery through the diverse photos from Joe Kline, Kimberly Teichrow Photography, and Melissa Dholakia.

A Commitment to Educate: 2024 Adult Garment Gallery Posted

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

A friend reminded me today, after taking a minute (or a month) to breathe, we need to get back to work. Each of us can make a difference by focusing action at the community level, on local legislation, and talking to people meeting them where they are.

Today I begin by highlighting the incredible trash fashion crafted by local Central Oregon adults. Creating trash fashion to showcase at the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show each year is a commitment to educate, inspire, and bring to the forefront the impact individuals can make to help the environment.

Check out the 2024 Adult Rubbish Renewed Garment Gallery of incredible trash fashion pieces and get inspired to take your own community action.

Rubbish Renewed 2024 had a diverse team of photographers. Thanks again to Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Joe Kline Photography, and Melissa Barnes Dholakia for the incredible images you’ll find in our galleries.

Get Inspired: 2024 Student Garment Gallery Posted

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

My compost bin is full of fall leaves, political postcards riddle the recycling, and in my studio I’m wallowing in waste ready to get inspired for the coming trash fashion season! It’s time to spread sustainable creativity by posting the Student Rubbish Renewed Garment Gallery from the 2024 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.

Check out the 2024 Student Garment Gallery and look for more galleries and blog coming soon!

Rubbish Renewed-Trash Fashion video by Milan Anderson for The Obsidian

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

This year we were lucky to have a young journalist, Milan Anderson, create a video piece on the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show for the Obsidian (the inaugural youth publication from the Future Journalists of America program). Milan, two-time winner of Bend Film’s Future Filmmaker Award and a 2024 Realms graduate off to film school, created this 7+ minute piece. Check it out, and see some trash fashion in motion, hear about our humble beginnings, and celebrate Bend’s talented youth.

Rubbish Renewed-Trash Fashion by Milan Anderson for The Obsidian

First Glimpse – Show Fashion Photos!

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

Designers from 2^nd grade to their 90’s created the unique trash fashion pieces that came to life on this year’s Rubbish Renewed runway. Materials from old single socks, farm refuse, net veggie bags, to an old garden hose were masterfully manipulate into sustainable style. Here is the first glimpse of a few fashion photos illuminating the brilliance of our trash fashion designer community!

Thanks to a skilled team of photographers, Kimberly Teichrow, Joe Kline, and Melissa Barnes Dholakia, we have a diverse set of images to tell the 2024 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show story. More posts with photos to come soon including full galleries. Keep checking!

Photos by Kimberly Teichrow Photography

Check out Kimberly Teichrow’s full gallery of Rubbish Renewed portraits for purchase at Kimberly Teichrow’s 2024 Rubbish Renewed Proofs

Photos by Joe Kline Photography

Check out Joe Kline’s atmospheric images in his gallery of Rubbish Renewed photos for purchase at Joe Kline Rubbish Renewed Gallery 2024

Photos by Melissa Barnes Dholakia

Thank You 2024 Rubbish Renewed Sponsors!

Posted on June 9, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

The Pavilion indoor/outdoor environment was the perfect setting for the 12th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show! The weather was flawless, the crowd energized, the vibe celebratory, and the runway stunning! Bendites perused the sustainable marketplace, local beverages and food, and most prominently interacted with re-envisioning rubbish both on and off the runway.

Together we celebrated the creativity of students from 14 local schools (our greatest participation ever), Central Oregon adults, and businesses on the runway. Together we created the best fundraising and eco-elevating event in Bend! We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors!

If you’ve been to the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, you know it takes a village to produce. So many parts come together to create this spectacular, sustainably-minded event. Cash sponsors support infrastructure (like venue rental) and in-kind sponsors bring items (like beverages) and skills (like hair styling) that we couldn’t create on our own.

THANK YOU to each of our sponsors for supporting the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show make an impact on creativity and sustainable vision in our forward-thinking community.

*Aeternum* **Designers:** Bend Anesthesiology Group
**Model:** Holly Graham **Materials:** *Sterile “blue” polypropylene (#5 plastic) wrap*
**Photographer:** Joe Kline

These sponsors belief in our mission helped bring Central Oregon a creative, inspiring, and sustainable fundraiser once again! Together we raised almost $20,000 for REALMS Schools continuing the vision to foster scholarship, strengthen community, and inspire stewardship through active learning.

Thank you!

Thank You Bend!

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

The Pavilion indoor/outdoor environment was the perfect setting for the 12th annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show! Sunny, not too hot, spring weather created the relaxed vibe adding to the festive, fashion-forward fun. Bendites perused the sustainable marketplace, local beverages and food, and most prominently interacted with re-envisioning rubbish both on and off the runway. It was a captivating event!

Thank you Bend for once again coming out to celebrate sustainability, creativity, student inspiration, and more! You rock!

Rubbish Renewed 2024 at the Pavilion. Photo by Erika Miller

Designer: Harriet Langmas. Model: Kaylee Carlton. Photo by Joe Kline

And the 2024 Business Challenge Winner is…

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

It was a tight vote this year for the Business Challenge winner with 8 creative garments presented by 8 unique businesses (Restore, Gear Fix, Lonza, Humm, Brave, Jackson’s Corner, OAS, and Bend Anesthesiology Group) who take their sustainability seriously.

And the winner is Gear Fix taking home the 2024 Rubbish Renewed Coveted Trash Trophy for their 1st time in 4 competition. Congratulations Gear Fix! We hope you display this trophy prominently.

**CAMP-TORIAN** Designers: *Nico Brilmyer, Kasey Boyd, Ethan Engemann* Model: *Avalon Disko* Photo by: *Melissa Barnes-Dholakia*

More photos to come soon!

1 Day Away! Business Challenge Preview

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

Excitement is building for the The Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Business Challenge competition just 1 day away! 8 businesses dedicated to sustainable practices, are coming together to celebrate sustainability, support Realms education, and compete for the Coveted Trash Trophy!

Rob, of Trailers4Two, has created another beautiful, discarded-scrap-laminate Trash Trophy. One of the following Business Challenge participants will take the Coveted Trash Trophy home!

ReStore is competing in its 11th Business Challenge! That is every year (we didn’t have it year 1). At ReStore they must drink a lot of Yerba Mate, and with designer DeeDee Johnson’s incredible material manipulation it will be one unique piece. Gear Fix, back for their 4th Business Challenge, has a growing team of designers led by Nico Brilmyer and with that, a growing garment. This looks ready for the Met Gala!

Lonza, also back for their 4th Business Challenge. has repurposed their previous Business Challenge garments each year. This is its 4th reincarnation led by designer Kari D’Angona. Another returning businesses for their 3rd competition is Humm Kombucha who was back last year. Mother daughter team, Michelle Mitchell and Mae Plantenberg, create a patterned piece of plastic pallet wrap encased in outdated labels.

Brave Boutique, back in the Business Challenge with another Jen Ryker, bigger than life piece. As a boutique, packaging is the largest waste to deal with. Jen pulled out her power tools to create this armor. Although Jackson’s Corner has been involved in the past with Rubbish Renewed, this is their 1st Business Challenge! But designer Allison Murphy has had multiple designs in the Business Challenge over the years. Allison, one of the founders of Rubbish Renewed, is an outstanding designer and maker. We will all be blown away.

And joining this seasoned crew of Business Challenge participants for their first time are Oregon Adaptive Sports and Bend Anesthesiology Group! One of the few waste items OAS produces are single leftover gloves/mittens when one is lost, and popped bike tubes. Designer Martha Campbell meticulously quilted these gloves together to create this versatile jacket. Bend Anesthesiology Group is inspired to make an impact on hospital waste produced in the OR. They are currently exploring repurposing and recycling the large amount of blue polypropylene wrap going to the landfill. Their Business Challenge gown designed and created by a team of Anesthesiologists, RN’s and Radiology Techs, makes an impact on the environment and on the runway!