Local, Sustainable, Holiday Shopping

School’s out for winter break. Weathers mild, and the community is bustling. I typically use these next four days to do most of my holiday shopping. In Bend, we have a bounty of local, sustainable, diverse gift gathering spaces. Check out three great community focused businesses (and Rubbish Renewed supporters) to spend your dollars locally and make sustainable purchasing choices that are lighter on the planet!

COSA CURA: 2735 NW Crossing Dr. #101

For your stylish fashion and home decor needs Cosa Cura is the place! The store currently represents 80+ Independent Artists & Designers and carries fashion from 8000+ local consignors. Cosa Cura creates an atmosphere of sustainable style, creativity, local support and community service.

GEAR FIX: 550 SW Industrial Way #1

For your outdoor enthusiast needs check out The Gear Fix! They consign high quality outdoor gear and repair your damaged favorites. Gear Fix cultivates a sense of community both inside and outside of the shop helping make our area inclusive for all that choose to venture outdoors.

RESTORE: 224 NE Thurston Avenue

For the handy person in your life the ReStore has a wide variety of home improvement materials, tools and furnishings almost exclusively donated by our generous community. Shopping at ReStore helps support the construction of Habitat homes that are built for energy efficiency. These affordable homes ensure families have every opportunity to thrive and grow.

After making these environmentally positive shopping choices, don’t forget to package your gifts sustainably. Reuse wrapping paper, magazines, old posters. Use scraps of fabric, reusable bags, or even make the wrapping part of the gift!

Wrapping paper waste fact: The amount of wrapping paper used for Christmas gifts is enough to wrap the plant nine times. 23 million pounds of wrapping paper ends up in a landfill every year.

Taking their Impact Seriously – Business Challenge Gallery Posted

Click here to explore the captivating 2023 Business Challenge Gallery

The effect of Climate Change is more pronounced every day. It’s mind boggling. Each consumer decision we make aggravates or reduces our impact on the planet. I believe our collective actions make a difference. One positive step is to support local businesses who take their impact seriously. Just the habit of buying local minimizes carbon waste – less fuel for shipping, less packaging… and supporting businesses who put the environment at the forefront can increase your positive impact.

That’s why we love the Rubbish Renewed Business Challenge! We highlight the sustainable work of local businesses who take their impact seriously.

This year ReStore, Gear Fix, Lonza, Ida’s Cupcakes, Humm Kombucha, Tiina and Zoey Designs, Aloha Blinds and Design, and Eastlake Framing came together to celebrate sustainability, support Realms education, and compete for the Coveted Trash Trophy.

Celebrate environmentally conscious businesses by experiencing the 2023 Business Challenge Gallery through the diverse photos from Deb Quinlan, Joe Kline, Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Melissa Dholakia, and Paula Bullwinkel and highlights from these businesses’ sustainable practices.

Trash Fashion 2.0 – 2023 Adult Garment Gallery Posted

With our first Rubbish Renewed event after a 2-year pause, we worried about getting enough of the high quality garment submissions that Rubbish Renewed was accustom to. However, what emerged was Trash Fashion 2.0! It turns out that designers’ ideas peculated during the pause, then exploded onto the runway. Extraordinary material manipulation, unique designs, and models showcasing it all. Enjoy exploring the diverse photos in the 2023 Adult Garment Gallery from Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Joe Kline, Deb Quinlan, Paula Bullwinkel, and Melissa Dholakia.

2023 Adult Garment Gallery

Enjoy the second in our gallery series with the 2023 Adult Garment Gallery!

Business Challenge Gallery coming soon. Check out the 2023 Student Garment Gallery.

It’s About Time – 2023 Student Garment Gallery Posted

Suddenly, it’s the end of October! Fall is the time my Rubbish Renewed brain kicks in. It’s the time designers, show goers, and art teachers start to connect, and it’s the time to post the 2023 Show Galleries!

2023 Student Garment Gallery

Rubbish Renewed 2023 had a diverse team of photographers. Thanks to Kimberly Teichrow Photography, Paula Bullwinkel, Deb Quinlan, Joe Kline, and Melissa Dholakia for the incredible images you’ll find in our galleries.

Enjoy the first of the series with the 2023 Student Garment Gallery!

Adult Garment Gallery and Business Challenge Gallery coming soon!

Thank You Rubbish Renewed Sponsors!

Thank you Sponsors. You made it possible to showcase these amazing designs that transform trash, inspire community for a more sustainable earth!

A 2-year pandemic pause, a new season, an untested venue, created uncertainty of success… but these incredible sponsors jumped right in to support the revival of the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show.

Through their sponsorship and belief in our mission they helped us bring Central Oregon a creative, inspiring, and sustainable fundraiser once again! Together we raised over $20,000 for REALMS Schools continuing the vision to foster scholarship, strengthen community, and inspire stewardship through active learning.

Together we spent an evening immersed in beautiful trash fashion and art, we contemplated our waste, our habits, and dreamed of solutions. Together we created two incredible runways with an audience greater than 700 people. Together we celebrated the creativity of students from 9 local schools, Central Oregon adults, and businesses on the runway.

Thank you!

Best Auction Ever!

The 6 stunning items auctioned this year raised more than $4000!

Each year more designers than we have space for offer up their trash fashion pieces for auction. These designers’ strong belief in the Rubbish Renewed sustainable community mission, and the desire to support education, inspires. We choose to auction meticulously constructed pieces that are wearable or displayable. Thank you to these generous and talented designers for their spectacular support!

Designer DeeDee Johnson, Chandalicious, Model Anna Rohrer – reclaimed gym equipment wipes, landscape tubing, chandelier beads from Restore trash. (Photo Left: Deb Quinlan; Photo Center: Paula Bullwinkel; Photo Right: Melissa Barnes Dhalokia)

Designer Carolyn Parker, Leather Leftovers, Model Aliyah Boelter – Discarded leather scraps and thrifted items. (Photo Left: Paula Bullwinkel; Photos Center and Right: Kimberly Teichrow)

Martha Campbell, North for the Winter, Model Caleb Campbell – discarded pop-up tent canopy, upcycled blanket. (Photo Left: Kimberly Teichrow; Photo Center: Melissa Barnes Dhalokia; Photo Right: Paula Bullwinkel)

Designer Heidi Lamb, Stained Glass Butterfly, Model Kristin Chandler – Vinyl coated nylon, plastic plexiglass, paint. (Photos Left and Center: Kimberly Teichrow; Photo Right: Deb Quinlan)

Designers Tiina McDermott and Zoey Lane, Walk in Beauty, Model Jacqui Warren – second hand rug, fur, and motocross rubber. (Photo Left: Kimberly Teichrow; Photo Center: Deb Quinlan; Photo Right: Paula Bullwinkel)

Designer Karen Holm, Spinnaglider, Model Julia Walker – sail maker spinnaker drop ends, decommissioned para-glider. (Photo Left: Kimberly Teichrow; Photos Center and Right: Paula Bullwinkel)

And the Business Challenge Winner is…

……Wait for it…… 8 Businesses competed in Saturday night’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Business Challenge, all creating masterpieces from their Business’ trash to showcase their sustainable practices and vie for the Coveted Trash Trophy! Aloha Blinds & Designs, Gear Fix, Ida’s Cupcakes, ReStore, Tiina and Zoey Designs, Lonza, Humm Kombucha, and Eastlake Framing all hit the runway for some friendly competition.

And the winner is…Aloha Blinds & Design!

Business Challenge Winner Aloha Blinds & Design. Photos by: Deb Quinlan

More photos to come soon!!!!

1 Day Away! Business Challenge Sneak Peak

Excitement is building for the The Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show Business Challenge competition just 1 day away! 8 businesses dedicated to sustainable practices, are coming together to celebrate sustainability, support Realms education, and compete for the Coveted Trash Trophy!

Years of passing on the Coveted Trash Trophy, like the Stanley Cup, is over. New this year is the laminate version, ready for the winning Business to keep!

Back for the competition are ReStore, who have competed in every Business Challenge! Lonza, for their 3rd Business Challenge, and Gear Fix, coming back for a 3rd after a many year pause!

Other returning businesses are Humm Kombucha and Ida’s Cupcakes, both for their 2nd year. And Organic Transfusion, the Tiina and Zoey team, who have graced the runway many times!

And joining this seasoned crew of Business Challenge participants for their first time are Aloha Blinds & Designs, and Eastlake Framing!

Bring your friends and your voting block to support your pick for the Coveted Trash Trophy!

May 20th at the Pavilion doors at 5:30pm! Get your tickets linked Here!

10 Days to Runway Submission Deadline on April 20th!

Runway submissions are starting to come in!  Peak at some of the unusual materials designers are using for their unique garments.

Devon Lizza creating ombré with can strips. DeeDee Johnson transforming wipes into feathers.

We need your trash fashion creation this season!

3 EASY STEPS to be considered for the 11th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show on Saturday, May 20th

Complete the submission process by the deadline << April 20th >>

  1. Complete the Runway Submission Form
  2. Pay Submission Fee
  3. Send 3 photos of your design

Your garment doesn’t have to be complete to submit, but the further along you are, the easier it is for the jury to recognize your vision in your photos and artist renderings.

Runway Submissions Due April 20th – What will you create?

The Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show garment submission deadline is one month away! Designers, now is the time to start fabricating that unique creation you’ve been pondering. You may be still collecting trash, but get started!

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3 EASY STEPS to be considered for the 11th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show on Saturday, May 20th

Complete the submission process by the deadline << April 20th >>

  1. Complete the Runway Submission Form
  2. Pay Submission Fee
  3. Send 3 photos of your design

GARMENTS SHOULD LIFT UP THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:.

  • Mission – Is your garment furthering the Rubbish Renewed Mission?  Does the description of your garment and piece communicate:  Transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth
  • Materials – Does your garment fit the trash fashion and/or re-fashion definitions?  Does your garment transform trash into fashion? Priority given to garments that truly keep items out of the landfill.
  • Design – Does your garment communicate a coherence in design, an innovative technique, unique aesthetics, and creative expression?
  • Construction – Do you demonstrate quality in construction?  Does your construction quality inspire long-term use?

Your garment doesn’t have to be complete to submit, but the further along you are, the easier it is for the jury to recognize your vision in your photos and artist renderings.