Trashion Puts Upcycling in the Spotlight at WasteExpo 2024

One of the key highlights and most talked about events during WasteExpo is Trashion, a fashion show featuring outfits made from discarded materials that have been expertly reused as an art expression and to highlight the power of upcycling.

The fashion industry is no stranger to waste, as “fast fashion” trends account for nearly 100 million tons of waste annually. This unfortunate trend can typically be attributed to overproduction, over consumption, and a lack of end-of-life solutions for clothing. With these factors, landfills are filling up by the second and without space, some locations are turning to burning mounds of garments, furthering adding to our output of global emissions.

As the industry searches for solutions and experts advocate for consumers to think sustainably, savvy fashion designers are taking to the runways to show off the ability to repurpose old clothing into new, stylish outfits. WasteExpo welcomed a talented group of eco-minded designers and stylists to show off their methods for waste diversion and to put the spotlight on upcycling in the fashion industry.

RELATED: The Art of Reuse: TRASHION Hits the Runway

WasteExpo 2024 marked the third time that Trashion had been held at the event where it welcomed Tracee Dundas, Founder and Creative Director of New Orleans Fashion Week, and Kristin Kinder, Vice President of Research and Waste Stream Sustainability at Wastequip as MC’s for the event. Judges Tequila Smith, EVP & Chief Sustainability Officer at Reworld, Carrie Carter Cooper, Founder & President of the Las Vegas Fashion Council, and Lee Spivak, Director, Advisor at Waste Management, welcomed the designers fashion innovations and applauded how each displayed the ability of upcycling in fashion.

Taking home the top prize at Trashion was Andrea Valentina with her design (seen in image ##) made of recycled plastic bottles and thrifted old denim jeans. Adele Visser was voted the Fan Favorite of the event with her garment, The Trash Queen (seen in image ##), which was made up of over 100 aluminum cans, fabric bags, electric cable metal thread, and more.

Trashion was presented by EREF, Waste360, and New Orleans Fashion Week.

See Also: Top Ten Cities for Clothing Recycling in the United States