Get Inspired!

Summer is not my time for designing. I want to be outside, playing in our magical home. FaIMG_0371ll, however, shifts my brain to creativity. And with that, trash fashion. Prepping my work-space is the first step. Then I play with materials.

My middle nephew came from Belgium this spring for a visit, and with a Bend local he’d met when visiting as a teenager, he enjoyed some Central Oregon fun: a little boating on local rivers, and exploring the areas that surround Bend. East of town they found their way to a spot where locals target shoot. The remnants of shotgun shells covered the dry dusty, midden-like site, an archaeological find uncovering some history of the region. TIMG_0589hey gathered up a bag full of refuse, bringing me a new material to explore.

IMG_0588

What trash will you find? What will inspire you this year?

A PASSION FOR OUR PLANET: THE HEART OF RUBBISH RENEWED

Rubbish Renewed 2012 Cascades A&E Photos by Tambi Lane Photography

Rubbish Renewed 2012
Cascades A&E
Photos by Tambi Lane Photography

Tomorrow night is the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, and it’s crunch time. Luckily this spectacular show and fundraising event is organized and supported by creative, passionate, artistic, and environmentally conscious people!  LOTS OF PEOPLE. Remarkably, during the 11th hour scramble, a passion for the planet remains at the heart of everything we do. Volunteers, designers, models, marketplace vendors, food carts and sponsors carry our mission, Transforming Trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth, skillfully.

All of our sponsors speak to this mission, with some of them, having it at the forefront of their work.

ReThink Waste Station

ReThink Waste Station

ReThink Waste//Environmental Center, tomorrow night, will help us make sure we minimize our impact with the Zero Waste Station. Our goal is to keep working toward being the most sustainable event in town!

Bend Electric Bikes is inspiring more people to commute without a car. The electric assist, makes the daily trek, from dropping kids at school, commuting to work, to shopping, accessible to everyone.

Camp Nor’wester has, for 80 years, inspired young people to live in connection with their natural environment and the people around them and put these skills into practice for sustainable living throughout their life.

Join other socially conscious businesses and individuals for an evening of sustainable fashion, showcasing styles that the future demands.  We invite you to reconsider the value of trash and celebrate the creative, sustainable spirit of Bend.

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).

 

 

Refuse Remover ReStore Re-opening

header_restore

Business Challenge: ReStore 2014

Business Challenge: ReStore 2014

Even with their move imminent and planning their GRAND RE-OPENING, Restore jumped on board as one of our headline sponsors for the Rubbish Renewed Eco-Fashion Show for their 5th year in a row. This like-minded, community organization has shown unwavering support for our mission of transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth!

ReStore Grand Re-opening Schedule

ReStore Grand Re-opening Schedule

This week marks the ReStore GRAND RE-OPENING! The celebration includes: a Habitat Style “ribbon cutting;” enter for the grand drawing once a day; live piano music on a grand piano that’s for sale; liv-mic radio broadcast; plus the Doors to the Future Art Show & Fundraiser. Each day from December 9th to 13th honors a different aspect of our community. Come shop for used and surplus home improvement supplies, or donate yours, and celebrate the GRAND RE-OPENING of ReStore! All proceeds benefit Bend Area Habitat for Humanity, providing home ownership, home repair & weatherization services for hard working low income local families and individuals in Bend and Crook County.

 

Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 3 – N Spekktor

Our third artist in the Behind the Scene Designer Series, N Spekktor, has participated in Rubbish Renewed every year since 2010. N Spekktor is one of the few Rubbish Renewed artists who works as a fashion designer, in real life, outside of her passion for trash fashion. Each year she’s produced a spectacular piece for our 21 and older show. Last year N Spekktor generously donated her piece, Bags to Ballroom, for our live auction. We can’t wait to see what N Spekktor has in store for this year’s event that is transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth.

(link to 1st post of the series)         (link to 2nd post of the series)

Designer:  N. Spekktor  Materials:  Plastic grocery bags

Designer: N. Spekktor
Materials: Plastic grocery bags

Artist 3 – N Spekktor

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

N Spekktor: I’m a Fashion/Graphic Designer, Event Coordinator, and Co-Producer of Beat Lab 92.9 FM. Over the past year I have traveled throughout the west coast showcasing my first ever swimsuit line and taking on collaborative projects with other designers such as Burning Artist Collective in Reno, NV.

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

N Spekktor: I heard about this wonderful show from a friend and loved the cause. Not only do I get to play a part in Eco Fashion, but I get to support an amazing school.

RubbishRenewedRunway_2011-1999

Designer: N Spekktor
Materials: Newspaper & plastic garbage bags

RR: What inspires your creations?

N Spekktor: Each year I have created a different look using a variety of materials. This year I will be collaborating with a local business to create something that has never been on the Rubbish Renewed Runway.

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

N Spekktor: No matter how much they bully you or try to hold you back, please remember only you know what you are truly capable of. Don’t ever let anyone stop you. I did it and so can you.

 

The 5th annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show welcomes N Spekktor into the Business Challenge competition as the designer for ­­­­­­­­­­­Stringsoil garment this season! Thanks N Spekktor for your dedication to sustainability through your creative fashion vision. We can’t wait to see what you pull out of the midden.

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 2 – Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin

For our second artist, in our Behind the Scene Designer Series, we have the design team from Sara Bella Upcycled: Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin. Sara Bella Upcycled has been a supporter of Rubbish Renewed since our inception when Sara donated bags for under the seat prizes. Each year Sara Bella Upcycled has participated as a Marketplace Vendor, Adult Designer or Business Challenge Designer. We love having this creative team transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth.

(link to 1st post of the series)

Artist 2 – Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin

RUBBISHRENEWED_PRESHOOT-6492

SARA BELLA UPCYCLED Business Challenge
Materials: shoe rubber
Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

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

SB:  Mom, ski, workout, run Sara Bella Upcycled

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

SB:  I opened Sara Bella Upcycled and decided to make wearable pieces out of plastic bags.

RR: What inspires your creations?

SB:  Various types of everyday clothing and event specific clothing, such as a wedding dresses, raincoats, chaps, vests, strapless dresses and boustiers, inspire me. Karlin and I collaborate on our designs. I design the fabric and she sews the garment. We work as a team on all of our creations at Sara Bella Upcycled and we love what we do.

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

SB:  My hope is to get enough plastic wrap from the SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) menstrual pads packaging to make a fashion piece out of. This would be a special way of acknowledging the amazing work SHE does in Rwanda for girls and women and to acknowledge my daughter’s (Bella) work to raise $50-60 thousand dollars for SHE through the Kilimanjaro SHE Climb in June of 2015.

RREFS_2012-6551

Materials: Fused plastic bags
Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

This year Bend’s Makers District is one of three headline sponsors for Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.  The Makers District, located on First and Second streets between Greenwood and Olney avenues, is a collection of local companies in a semi-industrial but accessible city neighborhood. Sara Bella Upcycled is part of this inspired District.

Follow the links below for two other inspired trash fashion pieces created by Sara Bella Upcycled for Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.  2011, 2010

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.