PROJECT RUNWAY USES REAL REFUSE FOR ONCE

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

The winning design. Kelly Dempsey creates this textured dress with small pieces of metal ducting.

Kelly Dempsey creates this textured dress with cut pieces of metal ducting.

Ashley Tipton plays with Polaroids.

Project Runway is known for it’s unconventional challenge. Each season, on at least one episode, show designers run to retrieve something unfabric-like, sponsored by some corporation or another. Although unconventional, the objects are new material that is re-envisioned into fashion. Designers use base fabric and hot glue to construct something unique. However amazing, this is not Trash Fashion. (Read our last post “Organic Matter isn’t Rubbish”).

This season, episode 7, used real refuse for once! “The designers go dumpster diving for recycled electronics in order to merge the worlds of fashion and technology.” Although they still use muslin (new material – not allowed in Rubbish Renewed) for base fabric and many use hot glue to assemble the garment, the concept hits the mark. See how these designers manipulate materials, using the innate qualities to push the fashion forward!

How will you stretch your use of materials this season?

Edmond Newton & Candice Cuoco use keyboard keys, wire, and mouse pads.

Organic Matter isn’t Rubbish

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

Despite the fact that as a society we deal with trash daily and throughout each day, we don’t always stop to think about what we’re tossing and why we’re tossing it; we just know that it needs to leave permanently because there are other things for us to think about, and well, the end destination of an onion peel, potato chip bag or aluminum can isn’t one of them. But, as designers of Rubbish Renewed and citizens of this planet, the ignorance is waning and the questions are forming into, “Well, what CAN I do with this onion peel, potato chip bag or aluminum can?”

I’m know you’re familiar with the trash can and the recycling bin, but are you familiar with composting? The concept of composting is quite simple: take a variety of organic matter (kitchen scraps, yard clippings, leaves, etc.), pile it in a bin (outdoor or indoor worm bin) and let it decompose into a nutrient dense soil additive to help plants grow healthier. Not only does composting create a great plant food, it diverts a large amount of garbage from the landfills – win/win!

We are currently meeting and planning the 2016 fashion show, and with that we are making revisions of our guidelines to reflect our mission. We realize that we haven’t yet laid down any guidelines regarding entries made of organic matter. Our 2015 Business Challenge winner was actually a dress made of organic matter – leaves that had fallen off of plants were carefully sculpted into a beautiful silhouette. It was a gorgeous creation! However, what was our first entry made of organic matter will also be our last. The organizers of Rubbish Renewed feel that organic matter isn’t rubbish – organic matter that is compostable should be treated as such. If you’d like to get composting, Deschutes County’s very own RETHINK WASTE has some great ideas and resources to help you compost successfully!

One of the neatest aspects of Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show is the education aspect. It’s so cool that a passion for fashion can open up a conversation that is so much more than a dress and a runway. We hope that you will use Rubbish Renewed as an opportunity to think about your personal trash stream and all the creative ways you can reduce and divert garbage from filling up our landfills.

What aspect of the trash stream has you fired up to learn more about and share with your community?

Warmly, Allison Murphy (RREFS Runway Coordinator & Graphic Designer)

Save the Date

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

6th Annual

Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Submission Deadline: Friday, December 4

Submission Paperwork posted soon! Check out last year’s to get an idea what to expect.

Get Inspired!

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

Summer is not my time for designing. I want to be outside, playing in our magical home. Fall, 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. They gathered up a bag full of refuse, bringing me a new material to explore.

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

Transforming trash and inspiring community for a more sustainable earth

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

More than 6 years ago, when we first envisioned the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show, we hoped to create a fun, fashionable event that inspired our Bend community to raise the bar in environmental responsibility. Our mission declares we are rooted in a love of fashion, an appreciation of art and a passion for the planet. Trash fashion created the visible inspiration; it just wasn’t enough. We wanted people to not only believe that being sustainable was a good idea, but in-fact act. It meant we, as an event, needed to walk our talk. We had to hold the bar high for ourselves, designers, sponsoring businesses, food carts and audience members to keep sustainability at the forefront for the event.

In 2015 we saw just under 1000 people in our 2 January 15^th shows. This photo celebrates ALL the trash from the night! Everything else was reused, recycled, or composted.

Thank you Bend for rising to the challenge, keeping a passion for the planet front and center!

Rubbish Renewed is a community event. It is powerful for students, embraced by the community, and is rooted in a belief that each person can make a difference in our environment by just making one small shift at a time.

We raised close to $22,000!

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

We are thrilled to report that this year’s Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show was the most successful one yet! We packed the house with more than 400 people at each of our two shows and raised close to $22,000 for REALMS (Rimrock Expeditionary Alternative Learning Middle School).

And if you haven’t viewed the fantastic photos taken by Tambi Lane Photography, Click HERE for images from this year’s show. Choose “first show” or “second show” to view the images in the gallery of your choice. This option is located near the bottom of the screen. Click to enlarge the image and use the cart icon and pull down menu for ordering. Please contact Tambi Lane directly for any questions. tambilane@msn.com | www.tambilane.com

*Please do not copy or download images without purchase. We ask that you do not edit or alter the images in anyway.

THE RUBBISH RENEWED RUNWAY KILLS IT IN STYLE

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

Bishops Barbershop rockin’ the hair styling

The jury is in; the 5^th annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion show was the best ever! More fun, more energy and more style. We couldn’t have done it without the nimble hands of the stylists from Bishops Barbershop and Posh Salon & Spa. The green room pulsed with creative garment connections, slick cohesion and quick turnaround. More than 40 models, styled masterfully, walked the runway to the upbeat music from Flip Flop Sounds.

A few of our sponsors also set the style tone:

Posh Solon brightening faces.
Models Autumn Weeks & Caleb Campbell

Urban Orchid provides a wide array of services from relaxing facials, trust-worthy brow design, to hydrating spa manicures and pedicures.

Lulu’s Boutique has an eye for what people like and is truly passionate about bringing great style and reasonably priced fashion to Bend.

Plantlife Clothing an organic design based company, strives to show the beautiful relationship between natures geometric patterns and the forces and frequencies that bind us all.

Wabi Sabi sells Cool Japanese Stuff. A quote from Yelp states, “The best collectibles! Japanese decor, toys, and gifts. Really nice staff. I loved this store!”

Looking at the runway from the DJ perspective of Flip Flop Sounds.

The Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show showcases how we “fashion” our lives while lessening waste. Thanks to all of our sponsors (linked on the side bar), designers, models, marketplace vendors, and volunteers for making it the best show ever!

A special thanks to Kimberly Harwood, Misa Olsen & others who jumped in to help facilitate a chic and timely styling.

A PASSION FOR OUR PLANET: THE HEART OF RUBBISH RENEWED

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

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 11^th 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//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.

Refuse Remover: Bend’s Makers District

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

The Rubbish Renewed mission embraces actions to lower our impact on the planet. Whether you rethink your use of waste, support businesses who put sustainability and equity at the forefront of there work, or use your consumer dollars to shop locally, each of these actions improves the sustainability of our community. Our new headline sponsor, Bend’s Makers District, fits this mission perfectly.

Located at the center of our Bend universe, on First and Second streets between Greenwood and Olney avenues, Bend’s Makers District is a collection of eclectic local enterprises in a semi-industrial but accessible city neighborhood. This up and coming district has everything to meet your sustainable, creative consumer needs.

Bend Hoops is dedicated to providing access for anyone (especially youth) to come and find a pick-up game or a path to competitive basketball.

Bend Velo is a unique bike shop, geared towards building and providing practical bikes for the general public, including repurposed rebuilds.

Central Oregon Trophies is a family owned business that puts community at the center of service.

Far Afield Cider was born from having enough of the corporate world and a desire to create something locally in the best place, Bend.

At the heart of Humm Kombucha is a calling “to care for their community and spread health, love and joy to all things they touch.”

Locavore educates, and improve access for, the Central Oregon community, about the health and social benefits of fresh, nutritious food that is sustainably produced locally.

Natural Edge Furniture makes natural edge peices from salvaged, recovered and recycled materials.

Rack-N-Roll offers easy access to Bend’s local adventures with all types of gear carrying storage.

Sara Bella Upcycled creates upcycled, stylish products from handbags to fashion wear made from plastic bags that would otherwise have been thrown in the trash.

Soul Bowl makes a whole foods lunch that is satisfying, filling, easily digested and nourishes your mind, body, and soul.

utilitu sewing & design Allison Murphy employs innovation, efficiency, and relevant design skills to alter, repair, create, and design.

Check out ‘Maker’s March’ during the month of March, which will be a series of DIY events scattered throughout the district, hosts paired with artists and people invited to participate in a hands on activity.

Bend’s Makers District will also by vying for the Coveted Trash Trophy in our 4th Business Challenge!

Local Libations, food carts, and mason jars for beverages this year!

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Rubbish Renewed

Graphic Design: Allison Murphy Printing by Dan Wellisch; Owner of Flash Ink

Rubbish Renewed is a truly local event! A fundraiser for a local charter school rooted in Bend since 2001, REALMS Charter School, artists and models from Central Oregon, local food carts (The Pizza Cart, Bethyln’s Global Fusion, Shred Town), and even down to our beverage service, beverage choices and newly branded Rubbish Renewed mason jars printed by a local company, Flash Ink. When it comes to beverages, we know that everyone has their loyalties and favorites. We can ensure, with the diversity of local businesses supporting this event, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

We are thrilled and thankful to welcome back many businesses that have supported this grassroots endeavor since 2010. We have Velvet back for the 5th year, providing our drink service for both shows. They will be serving Boneyard Beer, cocktails made from the finest vodka, Crater Lake Vodka produced by Bend Distillery , wine from Naked Winery, Far Afield Cider, the newest Bend cidery, and Humm Kombucha.

As we continue to work towards “zero waste” with the help of Rethink Waste, we have Rubbish Renewed branded mason jars to purchase for $8 at the event. People will get $1 off each drink with a jar purchase. From the talent behind the show, the artist’s marketplace, the local food and drink, we sought a local company to brand our new drinking jars and couldn’t be happier working with Dan at Flash Ink. His responsiveness and desire to beat any online company made it an easy sell for us to once again go local.

So why local? We all know that it has become increasingly cheaper to buy distantly produced goods, despite the increased costs of packaging and transport. Here are some shocking stats & quick facts about buying local goods.

Aircraft transport has greater fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions per mile than any other mode of transport.
Transportation by shipping produces emissions of 1 billion metric tons of CO2 and uses 11 billion gallons of fuel per year internationally.
The EPA reports that trucks spend 3,221 of their 6,816 hours on the road each year at an idle. 1.2 billion gallons of fuel and about 200,000 tons of nitrous oxides are expended each year by transport trucks idling at rest stops.

We hope to see you at the show next week! Remember to come early to grab a seat, drink, food from local food carts, shop in our local marketplace, and enjoy our eco-silent auction.