Sustainability Intelligence

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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 22^nd, 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

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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.

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

Posted on June 18, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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!

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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 2^nd 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...”

The Sustainable Fashion Legacy of Harriet Langmas

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

Rubbish Renewed is one lucky event to have a rich array of participants. Harriet Langmas, now in her 90’s, has been a staple at the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. Always hosting a marketplace booth of her repurposed, discarded scraps that she knits & crochets into hats, scarves, vests, sweaters, and rugs; sews into stuffed chickens, gift bags, and pillows… and often creates garments for the runway. This year is no exception.

Locals donate their cast-off materials to the Presbyterian quilters and the quilters pass their scraps onto Harriet! Materials that others believe are too small to reuse become embellishments in Harriet’s pieces. We were lucky to visit her long time Bend home to see her current creations and listen to her stories.

Harriet’s Sustainable Fashion Legacy goes way back in Bend. It was the 1960’s when Harriett taught at COCC and started the “Displaced Homemakers,” the predecessor to today’s Clothing Connections (a joint venture between COCC and OSU, a free donated clothing service for students). Harriet created a seminar to prepare students for job interviews and a closet in the gym, to provide professional clothes to wear.

In 1972 Harriet appeared on the popular show “What’s My Line” showcasing her patchwork fashion. She once dressed 1st Lady Betty Ford in a patchwork skirt to watch the 4th of July fireworks, and had 3 phone numbers for Katharine Hepburn who she met when filming ”Rooster Cogburn” in Bend with John Wayne. Ms. Hepburn wanted to buy Harriet’s skirts on a whim to give as gifts.

Before leaving Harriet’s she shared her rule of 3, rule of 4, and rule of accessories: Rule of 3 – don’t take any clothes on a trip that doesn’t do at least 3 things. Rule of 4 – it is the 4^th thing you put on that makes the pow! Rule of accessories – rhythm, cluster, pow!

Thanks Harriet for helping make the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show an incredible Bend Event!

Read this 2006 article in the Bend Bulletin to dig into Harriet’s fascinating legacy:

Redmond Proficiency Academy Digs into Trash (Fashion)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

With the Rubbish Renewed season coming spring, people around Central Oregon are looking at trash with a new eye. What is the essence of the material? How can I make something from nothing? What impact can I have on contributing to a more sustainable earth?

RPA students dug into a trash fashion during their January winter intensives. They explored unconventional, tossed-away materials, visioned and drew, then started to work their magic with different techniques.

Working with trash is hard and inspiring. Here’s a few of their thoughts:

Juno: “The work is a lot of trial and error.”

Trinity: “It helps grow my creativity”

Asher: “It’s fun and interesting taking trash and turning it into something cool. It’s cool seeing other people’s creativity and their works of art.”

We’re hoping to see some of these finished pieces on the runway! Time to start thinking about the submission process.

What will you create?

Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Submission Deadline is Friday, April 5th for the May 11th event. Your garment does not have to be complete by the submission deadline, but the further along you are in the process, the more information the jury will have to make their decision.

Runway Submissions are Open

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Rubbish Renewed

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):