Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 5 Olivia Barnes

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

Today we bring back our Behind the Scene Designer Series we started last season, and this time it’s a talented 12 year old! I first met Olivia at the December photo shoot before our 2014 Show. Then a focused 5^th grader she came to us dialed as a designer and poised to show her talent on the runway. Last year I lamented that Olivia didn’t submit, until I found out she was already working on her piece for the following year! Talk about a role model for planning ahead!

The Behind the Scene Designer Series celebrates 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.

Artist 5 – Olivia Barnes

Designer & Model: Olivia Barnes Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

Designer & Model: Olivia Barnes
Materials: Bicycle refuse
Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

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

OB: Fencing, school (7^th grader), and cupcake baking

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

OB: I studied all of the water around the world in elementary school and I got inspired to do something about it.

RR: What inspires your creations?

OB: I was inspired by my dads biking and I realized that there was a lot of things that were wasted. There were broken parts that just got thrown away. I decided to make something amazing out of that.

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

OB: My next step is to enter the fashion show this year, and end goal is to inspire, and make known the problems about trash.

RR: What is else should we know about you?

OB: I love to design, model and help the environment. I love the feeling of showing people what I have made that I spent time on, and it definitely pays off. I also love to get creative with trash and help put better use to the garbage around the world!

Photo: Joe Kline

The submission deadline for garments is just over 2 weeks away on December 4th. Go to the link to remind yourself the criteria for submission information and fill out the online runway submission form.

2015 Student Runway Gallery Posted

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

T-Time
Designer & Model: Lily McNabb
Materials: Tea bag wrappers

Inspiring students rewards all of us. As a teacher, seeing students create a goal, persevere through challenges and meet that goal, is the best. And when that goal includes taking care of the planet, it’s even better. I’ve had a chance to teach, mentor, assist, problem solve, and push students each year to enter in the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show. Many life skills come out of this experience and the 2015 Gallery shares the fruits of this labor. Thanks for all the determination, resilience, and follow-through shown by these student designers. We can’t wait to see what they bring this year.

Only 3 1/2 weeks to the submission deadline!

Check out the new 2015 Student Runway gallery posted today! Photos by Tambi Lane Photography.

PHOTO SHOOT SNEAK PEAK

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

Thursday, December 18th, Rubbish Renewed gathered 15 garments at Tambi Lane Photography for our pre-show photo shoot. We invited Business Challenge participants, live auction item designers, and had a lottery of students for our final few spots. 2 of our 10 Business Challenge garments came, and 7 of 9 auction items. We filled the final spots with a lottery selection of completed student submissions. Thank you Bishops Barbershop for the exquisite hair, Kimberly Harwood for the makeup glow and Tambi Lane Photography, our Rubbish Renewed official photographer, for your masterful vision and photo execution! Here is a sneak peak of what is to come at the show on Thursday, January 15^th.

AUCTION GARMENTS – Click on the photo to link to the auction garments

Auction Item
Designer: Paula Bullwinkel
Materials: Old Curtain & photo photocopies

BUSINESS CHALLENGE – Click on the photo to link to the Business Challenge

Business Challenge: Stringsoil
Designer: NSpekktor
Materials:

STUDENT GARMENTS – Click on the photo to link to the student garments

Student Designer: Sydney Phillips
Materials:

RR Student Designers in Action

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

Friday I captured this time-lapse in the REALMS Rubbish Renewed Elective. Look closely in this 30 second video to see 5 different students using these 2 sewing machines to complete garments! Check out their quotes below to see what a few students learned while creating garments to submit to the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.

I learned:

How to use a sewing machine.
When something falls apart, cry for a minute, then get back up and keep working.
To see shapes differently. I can make 2-D pieces fit 3-D people.
That good design takes time.
How to go from nothing into something.
Fashion can be sustainable.
To really look at materials to see what they can become.
That through my actions, I can make a difference for the earth.

(Sewing machines were purchased 2 years ago from Rubbish Renewed fundraising proceeds. All 6th graders now have a chance to learn to use a sewing machine)!

Student Designers at the heart of Rubbish Renewed – Gallery Posted

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

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.

Students and Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

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.

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

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

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

Part 1: Remember 2012 . . .

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Rubbish Renewed

Remember year 3 . . .

When we had 19 inspiring garments designed and made by students?
- 3 by elementary school students
- 12 by middle school students
- 4 by high school students
When 2 of the 8 business challenge garments were made by 2 of our talented student designers?
When the list of student materials included:
- Lots of candy wrappers
- Bubble wrap
- Race bib numbers
- Award ribbons
- Window screen
- Shower curtain
- Newspaper
- Tissue paper
- & Bags & bags
  - Canvas grocery bags
  - Plastic grocery bags
  - Ramen bags
  - Dog food bags
  - Paella bags
  - Coffee bags

Check out the new Gallery, Runway 2012 Student Designers, featuring all the student garments from last year!

Remember the Runway in 2011 . . .

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Rubbish Renewed

Remember year 2 . . .

When we had our first business challenge garments battling it out on the runway from ReStore, Wabi Sabi, Cuppa Yo, The Horned Hand, Utilitu Sew and the Environmental Center?
When there were 11 pieces made my middle and high school students?
When Panambi arrived on the Rubbish Renewed scene and blew our minds?
When the list of unique materials included:
- A kiddy pool
- Cone holders and spoons
- Capri Sun containers
- Maps
- Egg cartons
- Cat food bags
- Slides and photo negatives
- 45 vinyl records
- Candy wrappers
- Toilet paper tubes
- Tickets
- Window blinds
- Bicycle tubes and shop rags
- Paper bags, newspaper & magazines
- Burlap
Check out the newly posted Gallery, Runway 2011, featuring the garments from our second year!

Submission Forms Now Available!

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Rubbish Renewed

Submission Forms are now available! Remember to read the paperwork carefully for criteria, dates, and deadlines.

2013:14 RR Runway Submission Paperwork

2013:14 Student RR Runway Submission Paperwork

2013:14 RR Business Challenge Runway Submission Paperwork

With the announcement of our new date, the response from artists is overwhelmingly positive. A little extra time and not backed up with the holiday frenzy seems, from a designers point of view, delightful. The extra 6 weeks not only gives more time for artists, and time to solidify and prep the space, it also gives us added time to get the word out!

Students in Rubbish Renewed 2011

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Rubbish Renewed

Check out the burgeoning designers that graced our runway last year! Middle school students and high school students showcased creative thought-provoking designs in the 2011 show. Some used Rubbish Renewed to showcase their talents, while others used Rubbish Renewed as an opportunity to learn a new skill.

Through the new Mentorship Program with Allison Murphy of UtilituSEW, students used Wednesday afternoons to execute and implement their designs. How to install a zipper, pleats, and thread a bobbin were some of the skills they learned. Look for even more students in 2012 show.

Photos: Paula Bullwinkle

“The Cat’s Meow” designed by Kaci Alderin, 6th grader and modeled by Taylor Alderin, 9th grader

“All Decked Out” designed by Casey Matthews; 6th grader and modeled by Ginger Mensing; 6th grader

Marina Eitel; an 8th grader (second from left) designed her “Sugar Loaded Sweet-Tooth” dress, fashioned from candy wrappers and other packaging materials.