PHOTOS BY: Jen Lee Photography (more photos for purchase), Joe Kline (more photos for purchase), Bruce Couch Photography, Maddie Phillips Photography
Click on a photo to enlarge and for photographer credit
COMMUNITY GARMENT – “RESILIENT REBEL” Designers: Bend Community and Rubbish Renewed Council Model: Lynda Beauchamps (REALMS Teacher) Materials: Discarded exercise bands and paraglider cord Description: Every year, we ask community members to make a pledge of sustainability. Those pledges are fashioned into a wearable piece of art made from a material destined for the landfill. This year‘s piece is created from discarded exercise bands and paraglider cord woven together with our pledges and revealed in our community garment on the runway.
“FASHION IS FOR EVERYONE” Designers: BPRD Therapeutic Recreation Team Model: Scarlet Reisner Materials: Thrifted sheets with original artwork by people with intellectual + developmental disabilities, old registration packets, newspaper, grocery bags Description: This piece was created by our therapeutic recreation art class, we provide recreational programming for youth + adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This piece aims to show that people with disabilities can do whatever they put their minds to, including fashion design and modeling! It reinforces the community piece of the mission, by showing how everyone can get involved with sustainability.
“PUFFY FROLIC TUNIC SET” Designer: Kat Tomsic Model: Prakarsh Pandey Materials: car wash rags (microfiber – ew), ripped ski pants, seal dog toy, ripped 1/2 bandana, and bag that sheets came in. Description: Since working at Realms and helping with the ‘waste less nourish more’ expedition that the 6th graders do each spring, and working on garments for Rubbish Renewed, a few years ago, my mindset around waste changed completely. Now, knowing where our trash bags actually end up, and how much unnecessary material is being dumped into the landfill along with actual, unusable trash, it is nearly impossible for me to throw away anything fabric-like. Anything that could potentially be turned into clothing looks like an opportunity to be creative rather than something to dispose of.
“BadSMITton with SUSTAINABILITY” Designer/Model: Devon Lizza Materials: empty dog food bags, discarded badminton birdies, Discarded bingo cards, museum board, aluminum can tabs Description: This birdie bridal look came together with the realization of sports waste after joining the badminton club and seeing hundreds of badminton birdies enter the trash. “Married” to the notion of sustainability in a fast fashion world I decided to say ‘I do’ on the court and take these feathered beauties home to transform them into my spotlight material for this year’s runway show. Sewn onto a plastic dog food base, each birdie was carefully dismembered and sewn by hand, one by one, to create the high fashion feathered look before you.
“QUILTED COMFORT” Designer: Kerrianne Williams Model: Hannah Steffe Materials: two used twin size quilts from Facebook marketplace, thread from a previous project, bias binding Description: I discovered an old quilt on marketplace and the colors caught my eye. I then remembered an artist’s display of jackets made from old quilts at a farmers market. This combination sparked the creation of “Quilted Comfort”. When looking for items to purchase I always check for a used alternative before buying new with the environment in mind.
“BIRDSEED BAG RAIN PONCHO” Designer: Danielle Thalman Model: Evie Brook Materials: Seven bird seed bags, thread, parachute cord for drawstrings, grommets, zipper, scrap of fabric to reinforce zipper, velcro scraps to make hood detachable Description: My husband loves to feed the birds on our property so we generate a lot of these bags. I wanted to make something useful from them other than grocery totes, and a poncho is a good thing to have for emergency preparedness, perhaps to keep in the vehicle. The poncho would keep its wearer dry in the event of rain or snow. It would be noisy on the trail, however, as the material is loud when crinkled.
“FUZZY AND FABULOUS” Designer: DeeDee Johnson Model: John Slanchik Materials: Discarded stuffed animals and chewed dog toys Description: Formerly loved stuffies and dog toys made into a jacket! Keep the love alive in fuzzy fashion.
“ROSE CITY REMIX” Designer/Model: Kerrianne Williams Materials: Portland Timbers scarves (from local porch swing app), thread left over from a previous project, punctured soccer ball, broken bell Description: This knee length dress was inspired by a bag of Portland Timbers professional soccer team scarves gifted to me by a neighbor on our local Porch Swing App. They sat in my garage with the intention for use, but uncertainty of how to use them… then I learned about this event and this design came to life. The Porch Swing App’s mission is “share more, waste less”. This app brings our community together though giving one last chance to items destined for the landfill.
“SWAG DADDY” Designer: Qristy Kurtz Model: Neo Hart Materials: made from all the promotional products people give away that just end up in the garbage. Description: Less swag more tag worthy business promotion! Swag Daddy encourages you to #volunteer #donate #sponsor something awesome instead of printing another stress ball, water bottle, or reusable bag that just ends up in the landfill.
“CLUSTER AND CHAINS” Designer: Erin Donnell Model: Andrea Andrus Materials: used fabric for dress base, Plastic from medical equipment and medicine tops, plastic from packaging Description: Medical waste doesn’t have to be scary. Just like microbiology it can be bright and beautiful. The cell structures this dress mimics comes from the round medicine vial tops that were reclaimed from our local hospital.
“TEARDROP CAMP KOOZIE” Designer: Karen Holm Model: Kelly Collins Materials: 1970’s worn out sleeping bags Description: You’ve got your camper, you’ve got your best buds, and a good drink. But brrrr, it’s cold outside! You don’t just need a Koozie for your drink, you need a koozie for your body! Good thing you have the Teardrop Camp Koozie by Karen Holm! Now you’re ready to stay up all night looking at the stars!
AUCTION ITEMS!
“SEW MANY SOCKS” Auction Item! Designer: Lloyd McMullen Model: Sonia Materials: Lots of worn out socks and lonely socks, missing their mates Description: Lonely socks and socks loved too much, made into a comfy dress with accessories, the intention being no leftovers. And of course, pockets!
“SHORT SKIRT, LONG JACKET” Auction Item! Designer: Martha Campbell Model: Rona Campbell Materials: Discarded exhibit vinyl, discarded tent Description: Vinyl from Museum exhibits was such an obvious choice for a rubbish renewed garment! The art and colors are beautiful and represent creatures in the world that benefit when we reduce the amount of waste we produce. The nature of the material – big sheets almost like fabric off a bolt – made it a delightful material to work with.
“CASTAWAY” Auction Item! Designer: Karen Holm Model: Sydney Steinberg Materials: de-laminated sil-nylon drybags, decommissioned paraglider, 75 yr. old curtain scraps, worn and deformed kayak cordage needing replacement Description: It’s been a long day on the river. The coolers open. The chilled wine comes out, but you look down and you’re all river mucked up. Time to break out your boat trip cocktail attire! Your friends are struck speechless when the sun shines through the Mondrian-inspired panels of the skirt in this glamorous gown. Not only will you be dressed to impress, but you’ll know that you didn’t have to sacrifice any weight or space with this ultra light and compact design.
“Have a Seat” Auction Item! Designer: Meg Knight Model: Jackie LaFrenz Materials: sofa leather, vintage slip cover fabric, thread Description: On your way to a cocktail party or your next book club? Ditch the puffer vest for this stylish duster. Made from leather harvested from a landfill destined love seat and fabric from my mom’s old slip covers you are sure to turn a head or two in this number. With pockets for your essentials, you will be ready to Have a Seat!
