1 Day Away! Business Challenge Preview

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Mother daughter team, Michelle Mitchell and Mae Plantenberg, create a patterned piece of plastic pallet wrap encased in outdated labels.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!

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

Saturday May 11th at the Pavilion doors at 5:30pm! Get your tickets today!

9-Days Away! Celebrate an Array of Trash Textures

Here is a sneak peak of the array of trash textures creating this year’s fashion on the runway in just 9 days! Designers re-envision refuse and sew, drape, fuse, weave, braid…to create the electrifying pieces for the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show making their statement for the environment. Get your tickets today!

Garment Submission Deadline April 5th – 1 week away!

Just 1 week until the submission deadline at midnight on Friday, April 5th. Remember that you do not 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 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!

Submit your garment design in just 3 EASY STEPS to be considered for the 12th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show on Saturday, May 11th

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

Complete the submission process by the deadline of midnight << Friday, April 5th >>

We can’t wait to see what you create!

Runway Submissions are Open

It’s the designers, and their creativity, material manipulation, passion for fashion and our planet, that makes Rubbish Renewed unique, entertaining, and meaningful. Each year designers, like you, have made this one of the most coveted and exciting shows in Bend!

The Student and Adult Designer Submission Forms are up and will be open until the Garment Submission deadline at midnight on Friday, April 5th. For inspiration on the trash fashion creation process, student and adult designs, the runway show, the event, and our garment criteria, watch one or both of these short videos (3-4+ minutes – with some slightly different information):

Let us know what you are working on. We will highlight several designers again this year.  Spread the word and get designing! 

What will you Create?

How About that Diamond Runway by Flip Flop Sounds

The first year at a new venue exploration and creativity reign. The second year you get to refine. We are thrilled to take what we learned from the 2023 revival of Rubbish Renewed and elevate it for the 2024 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. One thing we loved was Flip Flop Sounds diamond runway!

A few of us were gathered with Courtney (the mastermind behind Flip Flop Sounds) at a local watering hole chatting about the Pavilion as a venue, and Courtney started to sketch ideas. The ideas blew our minds, and the diamond runway was born!

The Flip Flop Sounds magic happening!

Rubbish Renewed 2024 Confirmed!

Last Spring the revival of Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, at the Pavilion, was a hit! Rubbish Renewed has secured the Pavilion again on Saturday, May 11th, 2024 for our 12th trash fashion show event.

Mark your calendar.

Start collecting and designing.

We can’t wait to see what you create?

Taking their Impact Seriously – Business Challenge Gallery Posted

Click here to explore the captivating 2023 Business Challenge Gallery

The effect of Climate Change is more pronounced every day. It’s mind boggling. Each consumer decision we make aggravates or reduces our impact on the planet. I believe our collective actions make a difference. One positive step is to support local businesses who take their impact seriously. Just the habit of buying local minimizes carbon waste – less fuel for shipping, less packaging… and supporting businesses who put the environment at the forefront can increase your positive impact.

That’s why we love the Rubbish Renewed Business Challenge! We highlight the sustainable work of local businesses who take their impact seriously.

This year ReStore, Gear Fix, Lonza, Ida’s Cupcakes, Humm Kombucha, Tiina and Zoey Designs, Aloha Blinds and Design, and Eastlake Framing came together to celebrate sustainability, support Realms education, and compete for the Coveted Trash Trophy.

Celebrate environmentally conscious businesses by experiencing the 2023 Business Challenge Gallery through the diverse photos from Deb Quinlan, Joe Kline, Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Melissa Dholakia, and Paula Bullwinkel and highlights from these businesses’ sustainable practices.

Trash Fashion 2.0 – 2023 Adult Garment Gallery Posted

With our first Rubbish Renewed event after a 2-year pause, we worried about getting enough of the high quality garment submissions that Rubbish Renewed was accustom to. However, what emerged was Trash Fashion 2.0! It turns out that designers’ ideas peculated during the pause, then exploded onto the runway. Extraordinary material manipulation, unique designs, and models showcasing it all. Enjoy exploring the diverse photos in the 2023 Adult Garment Gallery from Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Joe Kline, Deb Quinlan, Paula Bullwinkel, and Melissa Dholakia.

2023 Adult Garment Gallery

Enjoy the second in our gallery series with the 2023 Adult Garment Gallery!

Business Challenge Gallery coming soon. Check out the 2023 Student Garment Gallery.

It’s About Time – 2023 Student Garment Gallery Posted

Suddenly, it’s the end of October! Fall is the time my Rubbish Renewed brain kicks in. It’s the time designers, show goers, and art teachers start to connect, and it’s the time to post the 2023 Show Galleries!

2023 Student Garment Gallery

Rubbish Renewed 2023 had a diverse team of photographers. Thanks to Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Paula Bullwinkel, Deb Quinlan, Joe Kline, and Melissa Dholakia for the incredible images you’ll find in our galleries.

Enjoy the first of the series with the 2023 Student Garment Gallery!

Adult Garment Gallery and Business Challenge Gallery coming soon!

Event Night, Behind the Scenes

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