“What one action can I take to lower my impact on the planet?”

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

First Friday, Community Garment Creation

44,000

The number of miles of new ribbon (more than enough to wrap around the planet – and tie a decorative bow, of course) that shoppers wouldn’t have to buy if every family in the country reused just two feet of trimmings from previous years. To keep the ribbon of Christmases past from getting creased, wrap them around a paper towel tube and secure with masking tape.

2011 Community Garment
Materials: Surgical Drape & Soda can bottoms

The Rubbish Renewed Community Garment offers a place to take a personal step towards walking more lightly on the planet. What will you do to generate less waste? Consume less? Ask yourself, “What one action can I take to lower my impact on the planet?” Make a pledge. Start today.

You can help create the 2014/15 Community Garment at the Rubbish Renewed table at December’s First Friday (December 5th) at Hot Box Betty, (903 NW Wall St). Write your pledge for action directly on the tin can lids. Your pledge along with all the pledges collected in Bend will be featured prominently on the 2014 Community Garment at the January 15^th Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show at The Bend Armory. Rubbish Renewed Community Garment 2014/5 By the Bend Community That’s YOU!

Designer: The Bend Community Materials: Bicycle Tubes,

2013/14 Community Garment
Materials: Bicycle Tubes, Minty Blaster holes (a manufacturing by-product)

At First Friday also witness the first Rubbish Renewed past trash fashion live wax museum. Learn how some artists are inspired to lessen their waste by reconsidering the value of trash and transforming rubbish into wearable art.

2012 Community Garment
Materials: Sun Umbrella, Tyvek snowflakes & packaging

Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 3 – N Spekktor

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

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

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.

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 5^th 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.

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.

2 Weeks Until Runway Submission Deadline

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

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.

Artist sketch by designer Allison Murphy of the dress she designed for Tambi Lane Photography Studio as part of the 2014 Business Challenge

TAMBI LANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Designer: Allison Murphy
Materials: old backdrop, banner & window screen

Behind the Scene Designer Series: Artist 2 – Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

For our second artist, in our Behind the Scene Designer Series, we have the design team from S ara 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 1^st post of the series)

Artist 2 – Sara Wiener & Karlin Hedin

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.

Materials: Fused plastic bags
Photo: Tambi Lane Photography

This year Bend’s Mak ers 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

2014 Adult Designer Gallery Posted!

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

Designer: Kassy Windus
Materials: Magazines & cardboard

Our runway submissions have come a long way since our first Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show in 2010. Last year our adult designers outdid themselves in their use of unique materials, fabrication techniques and their ability to reconsider the value of trash! Sculpted pieces emerged constructed from: vinyl & cloth blinds; almond milk & chicken broth boxes; cider carbonating bladders; magazines & cardboard; and climbing webbing remnants. On the softer side materials included: old oil painting canvases; dryer sheets; crocheted plastic bags; refurbished scrap natural materials; woven & stuffed plastic grocery bags; fishing net, San Pelagrino foil & shelf felt; and bike inner tubes.

Check out the new Runway 2014 Adult Designer gallery posted today! Runway photos by Tambi Lane Photography.

Coming soon the 2014 Student Designer Gallery!

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

Panambi Elliott in Cascade A&E

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Rubbish Renewed

The talented trash fashion designer Panambi Elliot is featured in the January issue of Cascade A&E. Go to Cascade A&E, click on this months cover and flip to page 23 to learn more about Panambi’s rise to trash trophy glory! Not only is Panambi a talented designer, she has supported Rubbish Renewed with her artistic hair styling – transforming models into runway rarities. Panambi, you rock!

Remember the Business Challenge 2011 & 2012 . . .

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Rubbish Renewed

For the past 2 years at the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show businesses have competed for the Coveted Trash Trophy in our Business Challenge. Panambi Elliott has transported 2 companies to winning the Trophy for her take on Trash Fashion. 2011 Cuppa Yo was the lucky winner squeaking past 5 other socially conscious businesses. 2012 saw the flashing lights of Sounds Fast swish away the trophy competing against 7 others. Check out the newly posted Business Challenge Gallery of compelling studio and runway garment photos from the last two years. Stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s 10 competing businesses. Remember it’s the audience that determines the winner. Who do you want to see seizing the trophy?

2011 Business Challenge Winner: Cuppa Yo

Panambi Opazo Elliot with the Trash Trophy

ReStore – Refuse Remover Sponsor

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Rubbish Renewed

2012 Business Challenge
Materials: Leather from de-constructed chair, tire chains.creativity.

Transforming trash, inspiring community for a sustainable earth. Some might say this tag line is a little grand for a fashion show motivated by trash creativity. But in fact our goal is to educate, inspire,entertain and take action to help create a more sustainably minded community.

Our first year, when we started planning Rubbish Renewed, we searched for like-minded organizations to collaborate with. We immediately encountered The Bend Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Like us their mission is to engage the community, not just thinking about their impact on the environment, but acting on it.

Shop. Donate. Volunteer.
ReStore: 740 NE First Street, Bend, Or

If you’ve never been, the ReStore is the ideal place to find treasures of used and surplus home improvement items. Donate your no longer needed building materials, appliances and home furnishings or discover that special object you were looking for. All proceeds benefit Bend Area Habitat for Humanity, providing home ownership, home repair & weatherization services for hard-working, low-income local families and individuals.

2011 Business Challenge
Materials: Blinds, Screening & Plastic Light Covers

Treasures

With an eye on the environment and the support of an important community cause, ReStore is the go to place for all your home improvement needs. Check out their offerings including a new “line” of up-cycled merchandise.