Author Archives: Rubbish Renewed

Unknown's avatar

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.

Event Night, Behind the Scenes

Posted on by

With each event year and venue change (this is our 4th venue in 11 shows) what happens behind the scenes has to be flexible and shift to fit. Rubbish Renewed thrives with skilled volunteers and sponsors who create hidden magic in the greenroom. Coordinated by a humble talent, Mayra Stearns, “frames” are created with makeup and hair styling that illuminate the inspirational trash fashion on the runway.

High school senior Elliana Bowers getting illuminated. Photo: Joe Kline

Mayra manages the action in a way that sets a comfortable tone supporting even the most nervous young models. She also generates a team of volunteer makeup artists who balance the feel of the garment with enhancing for stage presence. And since 2014, Bishops in Bend has honored us by bringing a team of professional stylists who whip up hair that highlights the flair of each piece. It’s fast and furious fashion at its best in the Rubbish Renewed greenroom!

Bishops stylists whipping up hair! Photos: Rylee Courtois

Mayra Stearns making magic, Rubbish Renewed 2016. Archive Photos: Paula Bullwinkel

Thank You Rubbish Renewed Sponsors!

Posted on by

Thank you Sponsors. You made it possible to showcase these amazing designs that transform trash, inspire community for a more sustainable earth!

A 2-year pandemic pause, a new season, an untested venue, created uncertainty of success… but these incredible sponsors jumped right in to support the revival of the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.

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

Together we spent an evening immersed in beautiful trash fashion and art, we contemplated our waste, our habits, and dreamed of solutions. Together we created two incredible runways with an audience greater than 700 people. Together we celebrated the creativity of students from 9 local schools, Central Oregon adults, and businesses on the runway.

Thank you!

Best Auction Ever!

Posted on by

The 6 stunning items auctioned this year raised more than $4000!

Each year more designers than we have space for offer up their trash fashion pieces for auction. These designers’ strong belief in the Rubbish Renewed sustainable community mission, and the desire to support education, inspires. We choose to auction meticulously constructed pieces that are wearable or displayable. Thank you to these generous and talented designers for their spectacular support!

Designer DeeDee Johnson, Chandalicious, Model Anna Rohrer – reclaimed gym equipment wipes, landscape tubing, chandelier beads from Restore trash. (Photo Left: Deb Quinlan; Photo Center: Paula Bullwinkel; Photo Right: Melissa Barnes Dhalokia)

Designer Carolyn Parker, Leather Leftovers, Model Aliyah Boelter – Discarded leather scraps and thrifted items. (Photo Left: Paula Bullwinkel; Photos Center and Right: Kimberly Teichrow)

Martha Campbell, North for the Winter, Model Caleb Campbell – discarded pop-up tent canopy, upcycled blanket. (Photo Left: Kimberly Teichrow; Photo Center: Melissa Barnes Dhalokia; Photo Right: Paula Bullwinkel)

Designer Heidi Lamb, Stained Glass Butterfly, Model Kristin Chandler – Vinyl coated nylon, plastic plexiglass, paint. (Photos Left and Center: Kimberly Teichrow; Photo Right: Deb Quinlan)

Designers Tiina McDermott and Zoey Lane, Walk in Beauty, Model Jacqui Warren – second hand rug, fur, and motocross rubber. (Photo Left: Kimberly Teichrow; Photo Center: Deb Quinlan; Photo Right: Paula Bullwinkel)

Designer Karen Holm, Spinnaglider, Model Julia Walker – sail maker spinnaker drop ends, decommissioned para-glider. (Photo Left: Kimberly Teichrow; Photos Center and Right: Paula Bullwinkel)

The Garments are the Show! Peak at the Portraits

Posted on by

Photos by Kimberly Teichrow Photography

The “models” bring the trash fashion garments to life that local designers from elementary students to adults create and showcase on the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show runway. After a 2 year pandemic pause the 2023 event blew our minds! On Saturday, May 20th, 50 trash fashion pieces graced Flip Flop Sounds stunning runway, highlighting waste from plastic produce bags to blinds, slides, and medical waste. 26 were student designed garments and 24 were designed by adults including 8 Businesses.

Thanks to a team of photographers, we’ll be posting a variety of photos over the next few weeks (including galleries), that capture the story and the details of all the pieces. Get a taste of the artistry through Kimberly Teichrow’s portraits, a stunning new addition this year! You can go to Kimberly’s Rubbish Renewed 2023 Proofs to access all her stunning photos for purchase.

Designers: Nora Sites & Sam Press, Amity Creek
Designer: Nevaeh Bennett, Realms MS
Designer: Kaia Chopra, Summit HS
Designer: Heidi Lamb, Eastlake Framing Business Challenge

Thank You Bend!

Posted on by

What an amazing night at the Pavilion on Saturday May 20th where the Bend community raised the roof for the revival of the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show! Thunderstorms and downpours created a dramatic backdrop to this festive fashion-forward event. One fan raved, “The Met Gala has nothing on Rubbish Renewed!” The evening raised more than $20,000 for Realms Schools to continue the vision to foster scholarship, strengthen community, and inspire stewardship through active learning.

Thank you Bend for embracing the mission of the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, “transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth,” and making our community such a great place to live!

Designer/Model: Holland Rustand Photo: Paula Bullwinkel

And the Business Challenge Winner is…

Posted on by

……Wait for it…… 8 Businesses competed in Saturday night’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Business Challenge, all creating masterpieces from their Business’ trash to showcase their sustainable practices and vie for the Coveted Trash Trophy! Aloha Blinds & Designs, Gear Fix, Ida’s Cupcakes, ReStore, Tiina and Zoey Designs, Lonza, Humm Kombucha, and Eastlake Framing all hit the runway for some friendly competition.

And the winner is…Aloha Blinds & Design!

Business Challenge Winner Aloha Blinds & Design. Photos by: Deb Quinlan

More photos to come soon!!!!

1 Day Away! Business Challenge Sneak Peak

Posted on by

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!

Years of passing on the Coveted Trash Trophy, like the Stanley Cup, is over. New this year is the laminate version, ready for the winning Business to keep!

Back for the competition are ReStore, who have competed in every Business Challenge! Lonza, for their 3rd Business Challenge, and Gear Fix, coming back for a 3rd after a many year pause!

Other returning businesses are Humm Kombucha and Ida’s Cupcakes, both for their 2nd year. And Organic Transfusion, the Tiina and Zoey team, who have graced the runway many times!

And joining this seasoned crew of Business Challenge participants for their first time are Aloha Blinds & Designs, and Eastlake Framing!

Bring your friends and your voting block to support your pick for the Coveted Trash Trophy!

May 20th at the Pavilion doors at 5:30pm! Get your tickets linked Here!

Just 6 days away! Behind the Scenes of Rubbish Renewed preparation

Posted on by

It takes a village to create an event like the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, and we have the best village! An important part of this community is the:

RRSCC – Rubbish Renewed Student Creative Council

This amazing group of middle and high school students have pitched to businesses to acquire sponsors; presented to a variety of schools to encourage designs for the show; interviewed past Rubbish Renewed organizer/designers for blog posts; given interviews on the radio; created social media posts; investigated the venue to make important logistic decisions; worked the 1st Friday preview event at Outside In on May 5th; and now are in the midst of the last week’s preparations: sign making, completing the community garment, scheduling volunteer times. . . There’s a lot to do in the next 6 days, but we can’t wait!

May 20th at the Pavilion doors at 5:30pm! Get your tickets linked Here!

Designer Profile: Devon Lizza

Posted on by

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?

2019 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Materials: K-cups, plastic Bags, old bike tire
2018 Gum Wrappers

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.

2020 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Materials: Hershey chocolate wrappers, newspaper (for structure beneath wrappers)

What is one thing you want to share with aspiring trash fashion designers?

Materials for this years creation!

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!

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS or use the drop down menu or button at the top!

10 Days to Runway Submission Deadline on April 20th!

Posted on by

Runway submissions are starting to come in!  Peak at some of the unusual materials designers are using for their unique garments.

Devon Lizza creating ombré with can strips. DeeDee Johnson transforming wipes into feathers.

We need your trash fashion creation this season!

3 EASY STEPS to be considered for the 11th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show on Saturday, May 20th…

Complete the submission process by the deadline << April 20th >>

  1. Complete the Runway Submission Form
  2. Pay Submission Fee
  3. Send 3 photos of your design

Your garment doesn’t have to be complete to submit, but the further along you are, the easier it is for the jury to recognize your vision in your photos and artist renderings.