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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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 Proofsto access all her stunning photos for purchase.
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
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 areReStore, 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!
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 ShowMaterials: 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.
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!
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.
The Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show garment submission deadline is one month away! Designers, now is the time to start fabricating that unique creation you’ve been pondering. You may be still collecting trash, but get started!
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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 >>
Mission – Is your garment furthering the Rubbish Renewed Mission? Does the description of your garment and piece communicate: Transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth
Materials – Does your garment fit the trash fashionand/or re-fashion definitions? Does your garment transform trash into fashion? Priority given to garments that truly keep items out of the landfill.
Design – Does your garment communicate a coherence in design, an innovative technique, unique aesthetics, and creative expression?
Construction – Do you demonstrate quality in construction? Does your construction quality inspire long-term use?
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.
New Season . . . Spring . . . Saturday, May 20th 2023!
The revival of Rubbish Renewed creates opportunities. One of these inspired a new season, Spring. Spring offers fresh venue ideas, novel designs, and more time for motivated student and adult designers to conceptualize and construct.
The design, creation, and application are a months-long process for designers to engage in and learn about waste, personal actions, design, creation skills, and determination, culminating in the professional feel of the show!
Just 4 months away. What will you create?
Save the Date: Saturday, May 20th 2023!Submission deadline one month before
Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show 