What makes the Rubbish Renewed Fashion Show so compelling is that it blurs the line between art and advocacy. This isn’t just clothing—it’s storytelling. It’s a reminder that sustainability can be expressive, that environmental awareness can be beautiful, and that even the most unexpected materials can have a second life.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: sometimes, the most inspiring designs don’t start with fabric—they start with a shift in perspective.
Experience the shifts at the 14th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show
In just 4 days, come celebrate with the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth. It’s more than a trash fashion show it’s an experience, a mindset, a community transformation. Buy your tickets today and come to the event on Saturday, May 9th and experience:
An Electrifying Trash Fashion Show featuring designers from 14 different Central Oregon Schools, a diverse group of adult artists and aspiring trash fashionistas, a live auction of a select group of garments, and 9 local businesses celebrating their sustainable practices and competing for the Coveted Trash Trophy, all amplified by Flip Flop Productions professional stage, lighting, and sound!
A Local Maker’s Market & Interactive Booths – featuring 13 local makers and organizations selling their creative wares and creating interactive experiences.
An interactive walk through art exhibit by Bend’s ReCoHere Cooperative, showcasing the challenge of textile waste and solutions each of us can achieve.
A trash creation station for kids and adults to make hats, toys, accessories… facilitated by the Open Arts Center.
SATURDAYMAY 9th – THE RUBBISH RENEWED ECO FASHION SHOW!!!! Whether you come for the innovative runway trash fashion, the live auction, the eco marketplace, interactive art installation, the bites & sips, or just to witness the sheer creativity of Central Oregon students and artists turning garbage into garments — this night always delivers. Link for Tickets Here!
Tickets just went live and it’s 2 weeks until the garment design submission deadline at midnight on Friday, April 10th. Remember you don’t need to have your garment completed, but the further along you are, the easier it is for the jury to recognize your vision in your photos and artist renderings. Read the material guidelines carefully. Here is the link to the Adult & Student Runway Submission Page. It doesn’t hurt to get your submission in early.
Check out these materials from a few designs that have started to roll in!
Tickets are now on sale for the 14th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show on Saturday, May 9th at the Pavilion. Use the BUY TICKETS button on the side bar, link from the tickets drop down menu, or scan the QR code on the poster, the Source ad, or below!
What an inspiring afternoon at DIYcave working with 12 burgeoning trash fashion designers! With 6 mentors these creatives explored the essence of materials, created patterns, experimented with techniques, and moved their visions forward. We can’t wait to see what they create!
* (The April 15th OAC workshop is after the show submission deadline, but can help finish a garment that has been submitted, or continue to develop as a trash fashion designer!)
Thank you to our incredible mentors Russell & Emma from ReCoHere Coop, Qristy from Fashion Workshop, Eva, Meg and Sandy from the RR Council for your expertise in design, patterning, and material manipulation. Rubbish Renewed is grateful for your dedication to the vision!
The 2026 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show will be at the Pavilion on Saturday, May 9th 2026. The garment submission deadline is Friday, April 10th.
On event day, for designers and models the magic begins in the Greenroom. It’s a space that builds confidence and inspiration to showcase the art on the runway. Nicole Potter, a seasoned stylist, led the styling team, creating a professional and comfortably accessible experience for all ages. Greenroom Photos by Greg Maffei.
This year, for the 2nd time, we had a student makeup team! These budding make-up artists, Rowen, Bella, Ellie, Lila, and Ila, gained real-life event experience and mentorship while blowing us away with creativity, connection, support and fun. They were inspirational!
Model Sam with makeup artist Ila.
Designer/Model Ruby with makeup artist Bella.
Designer/model Abigail with makeup artist Rowan.
Designer/model Guthrie with makeup artist Lila.
Emcee Jessie with makeup artist Ellie.
A group of fabulous independent hair stylists came together donating their time to uplift the art. Raechel Gilland – Adventure Time Entertainments, Caligosto (Cal) Leis, Jessica Trainor, and Kaia Chopra worked their magic quickly and creatively, with a focus on making each model and garment stand out.
Designer/Model Bethany with hair stylist Kaia.
Model Ian with hair stylist Raechal.
Designer/Model Sloan with hair stylist Jessica.
Designer/Model Guthrie with hair stylist Caligosto.
We’ve now dubbed the space Mayra’s Greenroom. Mayra created an experience of joyous support for all the students and adults alike. We continue to hold the space with her spirit. Mayra Aguilar Stearns – March 1, 1972 – June 15, 2025.
Mayra Stearns making magic; Rubbish Renewed 2016. Archive Photos: Paula Bullwinkel
For the second year we are offering free Rubbish Renewed Design Workshops starting next week at DIYcave, Friday, March 6th 4-6pm & Saturday, March 21st 4-6pm! Sign-up for one today by clicking on the Rubbish Renewed & DIYcave Design Workshop Sign-up Link! Or link by visiting the applications page on the tab above or from DIYcave.com. For more detail check out the flyer below.
The 2026 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show will be at the Pavilion on Saturday, May 9th 2026. The garment submission deadline is Friday, April 10th.
Calling all aspiring Trash Fashion Designers! It’s just over 3-months until the 2026 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show and a great time to start designing. With this unseasonably warm weather I’m not skiing, so why not tap into my creativity! Where do you get your inspiration? Check out past designer profile blog posts below to help you get motivated! We can’t wait to see what YOU create.
Revisit some Rubbish Renewed designer profiles by clicking on the links below. Many of these designers have gone on to create more garments for the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show:
I’m so proud to live in a town where many local businesses put our environment in the forefront of their work. Not only considering waste, but also community, social, and global actions. Looking back on last year’s Business Challenge Gallery post inspired me to renew the message:
“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 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.”
Celebrate the creativity and beauty showcased for action in the 2025 Business Challenge Garment Gallery and get inspired by the emerging work happening in our community!
6 of the 7 Business Challenge Garments at the 2025 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. From left to right: Lonza, DIYcave, ReStore, ReCoHere, Bend Anesthesiology Group, and Gear Fix (missing Humm Kombucha). Visit the 2025 Business Challenge GarmentGalleryfor captivating photos of each garment, their description, story and businesses’ sustainable practices.
Bend is a haven for environmentally conscious creatives. You can find local artists openly producing significant sustainable pieces, but many innovators are hidden in the cracks. People known in our community as teachers, medical care providers, outdoor professionals… are quietly creating powerful pieces that reflect their commitment to sustainability, education, and artistry. Luckily, some materialize for meaningful opportunities like the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show! Among these incredible hidden designers are: Martha, once a Realms student, is now the Community Engagement Coordinator at the High Desert Museum; Katie, a first time Rubbish Renewed Designer, is an inpatient hospital pharmacist; DeeDee is the VP of Homeowner Services for Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity and has produced pieces for RR every year; and the list goes on. Take a look at the 2025 Adult Garment Gallery and enjoy the stories and designs created by a vibrant community of eco-conscious designers!
“RUBBISH ROMANTICISM” Designer: Martha CampbellModel: Rona Campbell; “A PROPER BAG LADY”Designer: Lloyd McMullenModel: Mikayla Gil; “POOL PARTY”Designer/Model: Qristy Kurtz; “BEN’S BACKPACK 2.0”Designer: Meg KnightModel: Ben Knight; “GARDEN PARTY”Designer: DeeDee JohnsonModel: Robin Cooper Engle; “INTRAVENOUS SEAMSTRESS”Designer/Model: Katie Valentine
When people ask me what my favorite thing is about being the producer of the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, it always comes down to the students. They inspire me to step up my game as a global citizen, a community member, an artist, a designer, a teacher, and an environmental steward. I’m blown away every year by their creativity, their garment stories, and the craftsmanship, even by the youngest designers. This year the 2025 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show showcased student designers from 17 Central Oregon schools – from 3rd grade to college! Check out the2025 Student Garment Galleryand see what students inspired create.
Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show 