Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 4 – Paula Bullwinkel

When Paula Bullwinkel, our 4th Behind the Scene Designer, isn’t designing couture trash fashion, she works as an artist and art instructor at COCC. I’m always blown away by the strong lines that flow through Paula’s designs. She get’s the human form, and from this, transforms the materials into an extension of the wearer. Here’s a peak into Paula’s process of transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth.

(link to 1st of the series)     (link to 2nd of the series)     (link to 3rd of the series)

Artist 4 – Paula Bullwinkel

Designer:  Paula Bullwinkle Materials.  7 old oil paintings

Designer: Paula Bullwinkle
Materials. 7 old oil paintings

RR: How did you get started as a trash fashion designer?

PB: I found extra stuff around my house and I like to imagine something new out of something old or mundane.

RR: What inspires your creations?

PB: I’m inspired by Japanese couture from 1980’s and 1990’s, and 1950’s party dresses.

RR: What is one thing you want to say to all the aspiring young designers?

PB: Art can be wearable.

RR: What is your current goal as a Trash Fashion Designer?

Designers:  Paula & Violet Bullwinkle Materials:  Skirt; Brown Grocery Bags, Shirt; Old Tights

Designers: Paula & Violet Bullwinkle
Materials: Skirt; Brown Grocery Bags, Shirt; Old Tights

PB: I would like to find some really unusual materials in a junk or thrift shop to make something nobody has seen before. I would like to construct something huge and gorgeous.

There’s no question in my mind that Paula Bullwinkel will “construct something huge and gorgeous” for this year’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. Come out and get a glimpse on Thursday, January 15th.

Tickets on sale December 15th.  Purchase online at rubbishrenewed.com through eventbrite, at REALMS Charter School in Bend (63175 OB Riley Road), or at Wabi Sabi (downtown Bend / 830 NW Wall St).

 

 

Student Designers at the heart of Rubbish Renewed – Gallery Posted

Designer: Ashlie Jackson Materials: vhs tape & discarded cash register tape cores   Quote: “Through the many challenges of the design process I have learned perseverance.”

Designer: Ashlie Jackson
Materials: vhs tape & discarded cash register tape cores
Quote: “Through the many challenges of the design process I have learned perseverance.”

Rubbish Renewed started as a brainchild of two REALMS teachers. It makes sense then, that student designers are the heart of this event. For these young designers, Rubbish Renewed starts months before the show. It’s a time of creativity, determination and grit. The Rubbish Renewed tagline declares: transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth, so inspiring students to rethink waste and learn life skills like perseverance is the perfect indicator of success for Rubbish Renewed. Here are a few quotes from last year’s talented student designers:

“I learned that trash is never gone, but with some creativity we can make magic happen!” Olivia Rose Barnes

“I really had to think outside the box, because finding useful trash materials is harder than using store bought materials.” Jessica Browning

“I learned that it is harder to make a dress for a person then for a doll.” Lilah Beck

“Inspiration can be found in almost anything, and once you find it anything can become something beautiful.” Soleil Haskell

“Through the many challenges of the design process I have learned perseverance.” Ashlie Jackson

“Creating is like a house of cards. It might fall down at first, but then you rethink it a second time.” Sydney Scott

“Through constructing my garment I learned that to create something you find beautiful you must mind meld with those who see its potential.” Isabella Robles

“Trash fashion can be just as cute as store bought clothes, plus it saves our planet.” Joanna Browning

“Turning garbage into fashion is like a bud turning into a rose, it may look like nothing at first, but it will blossom into something beautiful.” Denali Heinlen

Check out the new Runway 2014 Student Designer gallery posted today! Runway photos by Tambi Lane Photography.

 

2 Weeks Until Runway Submission Deadline

Each year we are incredibly impressed by the creativity and innovation that walks the Rubbish Renewed runway.  The runway submission deadline is just 2 weeks away on December 5th, 2014.  You can turn in your submission forms to REALMS Charter School (63175 OB Riley Road), Wabi Sabi (downtown Bend / 830 Wall Street), or at the Workhouse in the Old Ironworks (50 Scott Street).  Although we hope your garment is well on it’s way to completion, YOU CAN submit an entry to the show with a partially completed piece.  Please simply provide photos of your garment in progress and/or detailed sketches.  From your photos and/or sketches the jury needs to be able to see the ultimate vision of your piece in order to determine acceptance into the show.
Runway entries may be submitted as either Trash Fashion or Refashion.  Entries will be juried.  Jury will use the description of your piece and photos of the finished garment OR if construction is in progress, photos of the garment in process, a detailed sketch, and a description to score the garment.  Download Submission Forms here.
photo 1

Artist sketch by designer Allison Murphy of the dress she designed for Tambi Lane Photography Studio as part of the 2014 Business Challenge

photo 2

TAMBI LANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Designer: Allison Murphy
Materials: old backdrop, banner & window screen

 

Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 1 – Tiina McDermott

It’s the trash fashion that IS the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. Without it, there would be no event. Each designer brings his or her unique passion, inspiration, and creativity, but no matter their differences, a common bond lingers: transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth.

This season on our blog, we’ll showcase some of our artists in our Behind the Scene Designer Series.   Enjoy the journey into the midden with trash fashionistas!

Artist 1 – Tiina McDermott

RR: What do you do in real life when you’re not designing and creating trash fashion?

Designer: Tiina McDermott Materials:

Designer: Tiina McDermott
Materials: Dirt bike inner tubes
Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

TM: I’m a student at COCC and a mom, while working part time.

RR: How did you get started as a trash fashion designer?

TM: I had a friend bring me a bunch of inner tubes, because she was troubled by always tossing them away while working at a local sport shop. She told me I was creative and thought I should be able to come up with something. That’s exactly what I did. Starting with figuring out how to clean the tubes, and then all I had to do was to create something.

RR: What hooked you on our Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show event?

TM: Three years ago I was involved with the marketplace and found that I wanted to participate with the fashion show part more. So, I found a model and started getting into it the last two years.

RR: What inspires your creations?

TM: My daughter is my first inspiration, and I love being sustainable. Working with a material like inner tubes, teaches me to be flexible.

Designer: Tiina McDermott Materials: Dirt bike inner tubes

Designer: Tiina McDermott
Materials: Dirt bike inner tubes
Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

 

The 5th annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show is thrilled to welcome Tiina into the Business Challenge competition as the designer for Aspect Boards & Brews’ garment this season! Thanks Tiina for all you bring to the show. We can’t wait to see your trash transformation this year.

2014 Business Challenge Gallery posted!

ReStore---Business-Challenge3web

ReStore

Check out the newly posted Business Challenge Gallery from last year’s business participants in the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.  Diverse materials manipulated into creative designs from a group of talented trash fashion artists featuring refuse from local, sustainably-minded businesses!  Enjoy the photos by Tambi Lane Photography.

 

Who will win the Coveted Trash Trophy?

RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-6346web

Wabi Sabi
Designer: Barb Campbell

Nine local, socially conscious businesses will put their trash fashion creativity to the test to compete in this year’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show’s 3rd Business Challenge.  The winner will hold the coveted trash trophy for one year.

Returning businesses:

  • The Bend Area Habitat for Humanities Restore – headlinesponsor and fashion forward trash fashionistas from ReStore bring us their 3rd Business Challenge.  They always have a surprise!

    RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-5998web

    Restore
    Designer: Brenda Jackson

  • Wabi Sabi – with creative spirit Barb Campbell creating her 3rd Business Challenge piece.  Wabi Sabi continually brings a unique twist to the runway.
  • Strictly Organic – Rubbish Renewed designer Karen Holm collaborates with her REALMS students to create a unique men’s wear garment.

New this year:

  • Tambi Lane Photography – one of our headline sponsors since the beginning, Tambi’s first Business Challenge features the talented, veteran Rubbish Renewed designer Allison Murphy from Utilitusew.
  • Boneyard Beer – one of our founding sponsors brings their debut Business Challenge garment.  This piece will be highlighted as one of our auction items!
  • Spork – is ready for the runway with dedicated 2 time Business Challenge designers, The Workhouse.

    RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-6492

    Sara Bella
    Designer: Karlin Hedin

  • Tozer Design – brings in Cecile Cuddihy a favorite Rubbish Renewed designer, making a green garment out of green-building plans.
  • Sarabella – although the first time in the Business Challenge, Sarabella garments are always a sensation on the Rubbish Renewed runway with designer Karlin Hedin.
  • Hydro Flask – comes in to the competition with an advantage, 2 time Business Challenge winning designer Panambi Elliott.

Who will come out on top this year?  Your vote may tip the scale and determine the winner.  Start a facebook campaign for your favorite and come to the event to cast your vote!  One vote per audience member.  Tickets distributed at the door on arrival.

Students and Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show

Students from 9 local schools submitted garments this year from three elementary, three middle, and three high schools.  Rubbish Renewed has become a venue where young, inspired designers have a chance to try their hand at a public runway event.  It takes tenacity, confidence, optimism, inspiration, and a willingness to fail and push through to create and submit a runway worthy garment.  Recent studies have found that life success is not based on IQ or a felicity with academics, but in fact, the characteristics shared above.  These young designers also showcase a love of the planet, by working with refuse.

The early show features student garments along side our business challenge and auction pieces.  Come and support these burgeoning designers on Thursday, January 16th!  All ages runway @ 6pm with doors at 5pm.

RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-6058web

Let’s Get Twisted
Designer: Denali Heinlen
Materials: Twister
Photo by Tambi Lane Photography

RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-6158web

Recycle Cross
Designer: Olivia Barnes
Materials: bicycle: tubes, rims, chains, cogs . . .
Photo by Tambi Lane Photography

RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-web

Go with the Flow
Designers: Sydney Scott & Annalee Pelayo
Materials: Shower curtain
Photo by Tambi Lane Photography

Panambi Elliott in Cascade A&E

The talented trash fashion designer Panambi Elliot is featured in the January issue of Cascade A&E. Go to Cascade A&E, click on this months cover and flip to page 23 to learn more about Panambi’s rise to trash trophy glory!  Not only is Panambi a talented designer, she has supported Rubbish Renewed with her artistic hair styling – transforming models into runway rarities.  Panambi, you rock!Screen Shot 2014-01-02 at 9.05.21 AM

2 Weeks to Runway Submission Deadline

Runway Submission Deadline

Thursday, December 5th

Hey Artists, Designers, and Eco-enthusiasts, it’s time to buckle down and get your Rubbish Renewed designs moving beyond concept into garment.   Yesterday after school, we had a handful of students taking their designs to the next phase.  Material fabrication.  Watching budding fashion designers problem solving their way through material glitches and the challenges of concept visualization to design is awe inspiring.  True grit. How gritty are you?

Cuppa Yo in progress

Cuppa Yo in progress.
Photos like these can give the jury a sense of the materials and construction.

Two weeks from today, on Thursday, December 5th, is the runway submission deadline.  Complete submission packets include: completed form (back page of packet); fashion description; fee ($20 adults, $10 high school and younger); and 3 quality photos of completed garment OR your piece in progress + a detailed sketch.

Remember, you don’t need to have your garment completed, but the further along you are, the easier for the jury to recognize your vision in your photos and artist renderings.

We can’t wait to see what you create that is
transforming trash inspiring community for a sustainable earth!

Tambi Lane Photography – Refuse Remover Sponsor

If you’ve been eying our newly posted Rubbish Renewed galleriesRR_Preshow2012-4945 over the last few weeks, you have witnessed the distinctive talent of Tambi Lane.  From year one, Tambi has donated her time and talents not only at the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show event, but from the early stages of visioning.

Tambi’s website staRR_Preshow2012-4820tes, “While always about the art created, it is also about the experience creating it.”  There’s no question about this if you’ve ever been to one of her photo shoots.  Tambi is a master of producing a comfortable atmosphere and a mood that inspires beauty, concept, and art, both from behind the lens and working with a diverse clientele, ranging from wee ones to high school seniors to newlyweds.

For Rubbish Renewed, Tambi illuminates the vision.  From her pre-event studio photography to her live capture of the runway show itself, she conveys the essence of the experience. Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show wouldn’t be the show it is today without the fashion inspired, style-capturing images of Tambi Lane.

Check out her website, Tambi Lane Photography, and even better, schedule a session.  It is empowering.