Imagine wearing an outfit created from pieced-together old playing cards and pop tabs. Last year’s Moab Trashion Show winner Kari Han created her “Queen of Hearts” costume out of those materials, which won her the “best couture” prize.
Couture is French, meaning “high fashion.” The category is meant to denote the outfit most representative of what you’d see on an actual fashion runway, said Third Space Moab Director Serah Mead. Her nonprofit group is collaborating with Canyonlands Community Recycling to host this year’s event on Saturday, Feb. 20, at World Famous Woody’s Tavern, 221 S. Main St.
The Fifth Annual Trashion Show is full of whimsy, and an invitation to be creative by making a wearable costume with found objects and other stuff destined for the garbage. The event, which begins at 8 p.m., is a fundraiser for both Canyonlands Community Recycling and Third Space Moab.
Other recycled outfits have included a cocktail dress made from old vinyl record albums, and a bird costume with feathers made from shredded paper. This year, Han said she plans to make a costume out of bike inner tubes.
“It’s an awesome event,” Han said. “Everybody gets into it. Moab loves costumes.”
The fact that it benefits Third Space and CCR makes it even better, said Han, a former costume designer for a Denver dance team.
Throughout the evening, three judges will mingle with the crowd, while deciding on the nine finalists who will take part in the Runway Trashion Show. Costume wearers will compete for most creative, best couture and trashiest.
Winners of each category are determined by who gets the loudest applause while walking the runway – which will be determined by a decimeter borrowed from KZMU Community Radio, CCR board member Claire Core said.
“It’s amazing what people come up with,” she said.
The Fiery Furnace Marching Band, which features Jeff Gutierrez on saxophone, Chris Canning on tuba, drummer Ryan Barnum and Hayley Peachcot – also on drums – will perform during the evening. The group is “super excited” about performing after a two-and-half year hiatus, Gutierrez said.
Two local DJs – Thirtina and Uncle Logan – will also be spinning tunes throughout the evening. Poison Spider Bicycles has donated a new cruiser bike to be raffled off during the evening.
The Trashion Show is also an opportunity to celebrate CCR’s 25th anniversary.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the CCR’s mission of encouraging sustainability with educational and outreach activities. The nonprofit organization used to run Moab’s recycling center until the Grand County Solid Waste Special Service District took over the task several years ago.
CCR’s values dovetail with Third Space’s mission of supporting low-cost and do-it-yourself art in Moab. Last year, Third Space provided studio space and materials for people who wanted to make a costume for the Trashion Show.
“We’re celebrating taking things out of the waste stream and (adding) them to the art stream,” Mead said.
Fifth annual fashion show helps promote sustainability
“We’re celebrating taking things out of the waste stream and (adding) them to the art stream.
When: Saturday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m.
Where: World Famous Woody’s Tavern, 221 S. Main St.
Cost: $10 with costume; $15 without costume. Must be 21 or older
Information: 435-260-8931
Admission is $10 if you come dressed in a costume, and $15 without. To learn more about Trashion Fashion, call 435-260-8931. For more information about CCR or Third Space Moab, visit: www.facebook.com/canyoncommunityrecycling and www.facebook.com/thirdspacemoab.
