Category Archives: Inspiration

The Juries Out

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The Garment Submission Deadline passed last Friday, April 4th at midnight. An exciting and stressful time for designers who hope to feature their artistic expression and personal statements about Transforming Trash, Inspiring Community for a Sustainable Earth on the Rubbish Renewed Runway.

This year we have more submissions than space available, with student designers from 17 Central Oregon Schools! These designers range in age from 3rd grade to a college sophomore. We have a wide array of adult submissions from several designers new to Central Oregon, a few designers back to Rubbish Renewed after a long absence, and some of our favorite material manipulator, trash fashion designers in the area.

You’ll see some of the traditional trash manipulated year after year on the runway – plastic bags, jeans, candy wrappers, drink cans, produce mesh, mailers… Some materials that are new this year to the Rubbish Renewed runway – political signs, retired chainsaw chaps, and raft parts salvaged from the Colorado Bridge wave cleanup…

Rubbish Renewed is just 1 month away! We can’t wait to see you for our 13th event and showcase designer creations that celebrate the actions we can take to elevate the sustainability of our Central Oregon communities.

Scan QR code below for Tickets or link from the button in the sidebar

More than a Trash Fashion Show

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Rubbish Renewed is more than a Trash Fashion Show, it’s about community connections, sustainable education, design inspiration…. Friday, February 21st was the first free Trash Fashion Design Workshop collaboration with DIYcave. Amazing to bring students and adults together from diverse corners of Central Oregon to share, collaborate, and get inspired! Thank you to our group of talented mentors from ReStore, ReCoHere, and Interconnected Diversity! These sponsors not only support the event, but they also gave their time and expertise to burgeoning designers. We can’t wait for the next workshop on March 7th!

Free RR Design Workshop collaboration with DIYcave!

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How can I create something from nothing?

What is the value of trash beyond the landfill?

What is its story?

Sign up for one of the first ever Rubbish Renewed free organized community design workshops! Rubbish Renewed is partnering with DIYcave to inspire and support new and burgeoning trash fashion designers of all ages. We created two 2-hour workshops to help jump start your vision with an additional 1-hour free studio time gift card from DIYcave.

Space is limited to 12 participants for each workshop. We will have several dedicated designers, material manipulators, and technical teachers to meet you where you are in the process. Come with garment ideas, material samples, and an open mind! Sign-up for one by clicking the linked dates below.

Rubbish Renewed Design Workshop 1: Friday, February 21st 4-6pm

Rubbish Renewed Design Workshop 2: Friday, March 7th 4-6pm

The 2025 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show will be at the Pavilion on Saturday, May 10th 2025. The garment submission deadline is Friday, April 4th.

We can’t wait to see what you create!

Sustainability Intelligence

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I recently arrived back in Bend after several months of traveling abroad, hiking, visiting family, and teaching. Spending time in other countries stimulates my sustainability intelligence.

We walked 100+ miles in northern England of the Coast-to-Coast trail and observed the lack of trash along the way. In the UK “The Right to Roam” is embedded in the culture, and these pathways, even more broadly accessible in Scotland, have been used for centuries. There is a code of conduct to preserve these public accesses environmentally and culturally. And people follow it.

In Brussels, we spent Sunday, September 22nd, World Car Free Day, cycling miles throughout the car-free boulevards from Watermael-Boitsfort to the Grand Place and beyond. A city of millions freeing all streets of cars for 1 day a year!

And in Reykjavik, Iceland all people and businesses are obligated to sort their refuse into 5 categories: food waste; paper; plastic; cans/bottles; and trash. In fact, it won’t be picked up if you haven’t complied. What they do with it after that I’ll save for another conversation.

These experiences inspire me to think in new ways about what we can do here at home, in our Central Oregon communities. It’s time to take action.

More on the Right to Roam:

Fi Darby – What is the Right to Roam in England

Gov.UK – Use Your Right to Roam

The Guardian – The Long Legal Fight for the Right to Roam England’s Countryside

More on World Car Free Day:

UN Environment Programme – World Car Free Day

Brussels Times – Most Beautiful Brussels Car Free Sunday in Pictures

Portland.Gov – Sunday Parkways

More on Iceland’s Waste Plan:

Recycling International – Recycling in the Land of Ice and Fire

The Reykjavik Grapevine – Making Sense of Recycling in Reykjavik

Umhverfis Stofnun – A New Law on Waste Takes Effect

Green by Iceland – Recycling Plastic with Geothermal

Community Action: 2024 Business Challenge Gallery Posted

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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 2024 Rubbish Renewed 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.

That’s why we love the Rubbish Renewed Business Challenge! We get to highlight the sustainable work of local businesses who take community action. Link to 2024 Business Challenge Garment Gallery.

Pictured: Bend Anesthesiology Group “AETERNUM”, ReStore “AMPED-UP EVERYDAY HERO”, Lonza “SCIENCE WEATHERS THE STORM”, Humm “TIDE TOGETHER“

This year ReStore, Gear Fix, Lonza, Humm Kombucha, and Brave Collective returned to the competition and Bend Anesthesiology Group, Jackson’s Corner, and Oregon Adaptive Sports joined for their first Business Challenge. They came together to celebrate sustainability, support Realms education, and compete for the Coveted Trash Trophy.

Celebrate environmentally conscious businesses by experiencing the 2024 Business Challenge Garment Gallery through the diverse photos from Joe Kline, Kimberly Teichrow Photography, and Melissa Dholakia.

A Commitment to Educate: 2024 Adult Garment Gallery Posted

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A friend reminded me today, after taking a minute (or a month) to breathe, we need to get back to work. Each of us can make a difference by focusing action at the community level, on local legislation, and talking to people meeting them where they are.

Today I begin by highlighting the incredible trash fashion crafted by local Central Oregon adults. Creating trash fashion to showcase at the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show each year is a commitment to educate, inspire, and bring to the forefront the impact individuals can make to help the environment.

Check out the 2024 Adult Rubbish Renewed Garment Gallery of incredible trash fashion pieces and get inspired to take your own community action.

Rubbish Renewed 2024 had a diverse team of photographers. Thanks again to Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Joe Kline Photography, and Melissa Barnes Dholakia for the incredible images you’ll find in our galleries.

Get Inspired: 2024 Student Garment Gallery Posted

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My compost bin is full of fall leaves, political postcards riddle the recycling, and in my studio I’m wallowing in waste ready to get inspired for the coming trash fashion season! It’s time to spread sustainable creativity by posting the Student Rubbish Renewed Garment Gallery from the 2024 Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.

Rubbish Renewed 2024 had a diverse team of photographers. Thanks again to Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Joe Kline Photography, and Melissa Barnes Dholakia for the incredible images you’ll find in our galleries.

Check out the 2024 Student Garment Gallery and look for more galleries and blog coming soon!

Rubbish Renewed-Trash Fashion video by Milan Anderson for The Obsidian

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This year we were lucky to have a young journalist, Milan Anderson, create a video piece on the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show for the Obsidian (the inaugural youth publication from the Future Journalists of America program). Milan, two-time winner of Bend Film’s Future Filmmaker Award and a 2024 Realms graduate off to film school, created this 7+ minute piece. Check it out, and see some trash fashion in motion, hear about our humble beginnings, and celebrate Bend’s talented youth.

Rubbish Renewed-Trash Fashion by Milan Anderson for The Obsidian

Thank You Bend!

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The Pavilion indoor/outdoor environment was the perfect setting for the 12th annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show! Sunny, not too hot, spring weather created the relaxed vibe adding to the festive, fashion-forward fun. Bendites perused the sustainable marketplace, local beverages and food, and most prominently interacted with re-envisioning rubbish both on and off the runway. It was a captivating event!

Thank you Bend for once again coming out to celebrate sustainability, creativity, student inspiration, and more! You rock!

Rubbish Renewed 2024 at the Pavilion. Photo by Erika Miller
Designer: Harriet Langmas. Model: Kaylee Carlton. Photo by Joe Kline

Cosa Cura Supporting Community with Sustainable Style

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Since 2006 Cosa Cura has created an atmosphere of sustainable style, creativity, local support, and community service. A perfect companion for the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. This unique business has partnered with Rubbish Renewed since our humble beginnings and is back for the second year of Presenting Sponsor!

Cosa Cura showing off Rubbish Renewed Trash Fashion from the past!

I’m not much of a current clothes shopper. Mostly because of *The Dark Side of Fast Fashion, but that’s not Cosa Cura. It’s my go-to spot to support local artists and purchase unique clothing pieces that will last and compliment my style!

Cosa Cura at Brookswood Meadow Plaza

As of this Spring, Cosa Cura now offers 2 locations supporting local artists and fashionistas with a locale to sell their designs alongside stylish reused fashion. This unique shop now bookends Bend, with one location in Northwest Crossing and the newly opened 2nd shop in Brookswood Meadow Plaza in Southwest Bend. The Plaza itself is worth a visit with a neighborhood atmosphere with local shops, services, and restaurants. Check out Cosa Cura’s new airy space and support local sustainably-minded, and community-supportive businesses!

*The Dark Side of Fast Fashion – “It dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year...”

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