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Upcycling — repurposing old materials to make new clothes— sits at the intersection of sustainability and creativity in the fashion industry. This Saturday, Texas Campaign for the Environment’s 16th annual Trash Makeover Challenge will showcase that trend, strutting out-of-this-world designs made out of recycled materials down the catwalk.
Held at the Texas Disposal Systems Event Pavilion & Wildlife Ranch in Southeast Travis County, the Trash Makeover is a Texas Campaign for the Environment fundraiser that brings together environmentalists, local officials, and fashion enthusiasts. This year’s theme — “Cosmic Couture” — encourages designers to transform trash into high-fashion spacewear.
Since its inception in 2011, the Trash Makeover Challenge has raised $1 million for environmental justice and inspired more than 150 recycled designs, according to its sponsor. Repurposing materials and reducing waste cuts to the core of Texas Campaign’s mission to create a cleaner, healthier Texas.
The event will be hosted by KXAN anchor Jala Washington and judged by: writer Catenya McHenry, clothing architect Aaron Torres, sustainable fashion consultant Jillian Colin and Travis County Court Judge Denise Hernández.
Saturday’s event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with food, drinks, an auction, and — of course — a trashy fashion show. After all the looks have walked the runway, judges will award $3,000 to the best Cosmic Couture, $1,000 to second place and $500 to third. Contestants also compete for a $500 people’s choice award, and one student designer will win the $350 seedling award.
Credit: Zina Harding
Attending his first Trash Makeover Challenge last year, Oaks told the Austin Free Press that he was “blown away” by the labor of love behind each design. He recalled one dress made from “actual fish scales” that shone under fluorescent lights, and another from used tamale husks.
“The designers, how they can take these sorts of materials or products that most of us just see as trash, and turn them into beauty, it’s really amazing,” Oaks stated. “It’s such a uniquely Austin event.”
Greg Lara, hairdresser and owner of Leander’s Urban Gypsy Boutique, has participated in the Trash Makeover since 2015, winning second place last year. He acknowledged the challenge of a 90% recycled fabric requirement, which pushes him to think outside the discarded box.
“It is hard because you’re like — okay, what is recyclable and what can I use?” Lara told the Austin Free Press. Now Lara says that he sees potential in every piece of trash, “even a bag of potato chips.”
While the Trash Makeover pushes upcycling to the max, Oaks said that recycled fashion can be functional. He referred to the fashion show as a “demonstration of circular and sustainable economies.” Repurposing materials reduces the need to extract additional environmental resources for clothing.
“While we’re celebrating the fashion and using these items that would have been discarded, we also hope that we are sparking some innovation in the marketplace for people to take concepts, see things in action and think about how you could bring them to scale,” Oaks said.
Aaron Torres, who designed Trash Makeover outfits in previous years before becoming a judge this year, said that he weaves sustainability into his fashion-design career. He emphasized the value of a circular economy over fast fashion, which relies on constantly creating new products.
“I think circularity is really what it’s about. Even if you’re using sustainable, organic cotton, with creation comes destruction,” Torres stated. “There’s so many textiles on the planet right now. I’m more interested in alchemizing what already exists.”
Holding the event at Texas Disposal Systems’ wildlife ranch is another demonstration of environmental stewardship. Texas Disposal has been a longtime Trash Makeover sponsor and “has gone above and beyond” when it comes to balancing environmental protection with waste disposal, Oaks said.
Other group sponsors include: H-E-B, La Pera, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Perales, Allmon, & Ice, Austin Free Press, KOOP 91.7 FM and Prosperity Bank. Individual sponsors include: Jennifer Clark, Peggy & Matt Winkler, Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea, Charlotte Herzele, Brion Oaks and Austin Free Press Executive Director Alberta Phillips.
Oaks added that Texas Campaign is building partnerships with other nonprofits, as well as fashion design schools, to scale up waste reuse.
“We have a great demonstration of how we can reuse materials to create high-end fashion,” Oaks stated. “The next step is: how could we incubate this, and put it back into the economy in a real way?”
Disclosure: Austin Free Press is a sponsor of the Trash Makeover Challenge.
Piper Guinn is the health equity reporter for the Austin Free Press, covering the disproportionate health burden carried by the city’s most vulnerable. Piper is a native Texan and recent graduate of Whittier College, where she received a B.A. in political science.
