Style Meets Trash at Sonoma’s Trashion Fashion Week

Trashion Fashion Week returns to Sonoma with creative recycled outfits, dogs on the runway and vintage Barbies on display. Here's all you need to know about this year's event.

Lauren Benward-Krause models a hat made from a rotating fan, recycled wire and origami birds from old magazine pages, designed by Joni Derickson and Alexa Wood, during the Trashion Fashion Show, where designers create outfits out of recycled materials, at the Sonoma Community Center in Sonoma, Calif., on April 26, 2013. (Alvin Jornada

By Adrienne Shubin
Lauren Benward-Krause models a hat made from a rotating fan, recycled wire and origami birds from old magazine pages, designed by Joni Derickson and Alexa Wood, during the Trashion Fashion Show, where designers create outfits out of recycled materials, at the Sonoma Community Center in Sonoma, Calif., on April 26, 2013. (Alvin Jornada
Lauren Benward-Krause models a hat made from a rotating fan, recycled wire and origami birds from old magazine pages, designed by Joni Derickson and Alexa Wood, during the Trashion Fashion Show 2013. (Alvin Jornada)

Sonoma Community Center is putting the spotlight on recycling, repurposing and revitalizing discarded and unwanted materials later this month for Trashion Fashion Week. In the past few weeks, talented artists and designers have been hard at work turning junk and castoff items into eye-popping and creative wearable art. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s show:

Amara Morrison models Elfride Whitcher's design - "Fit to be Tied," made from men's neckties - at the Sonoma Community Center's Trashion Fashion Show 2016. ( Robbi Pengelly
Amara Morrison models Elfride Whitcher’s design – “Fit to be Tied,” made from men’s neckties – at the Sonoma Community Center’s Trashion Fashion Show 2016. (Robbi Pengelly)

This year, there will be a series of activities throughout the week of March 18 – 26. A self-guided walking tour of the town of Sonoma, showcasing two dozen Trashion garments on display at various businesses, starts off the events. Maps are available at the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.

"Just the Ticket" was designed by Margaret Hatcher from raffle ticket stubs over thrift store castoffs. It was modeled by Stacia Rodden and xxxxx at the Sonoma Community Center's Trashion Fashion Show last Saturday, March 19. High couture made from lowly rubbish graced the catwalk at the Vets Building before an appreciative crowd. (Photos by Robbi Pengelly
“Just the Ticket,” designed by Margaret Hatcher from raffle ticket stubs over thrift store castoffs, at the 2016 Trashion Fashion show in Sonoma. (Robbi Pengelly)

Also opening Saturday, March 18, is 101 Trashion Barbies. See 101 Barbies on display that were previously discarded, then re-clothed and renewed by 101 different artists. A silent auction will be held to buy the dolls at a gala reception from 4:00 – 6:00pm on Saturday, March 18. The exhibit, located at Gallery 212 at the Sonoma Community Center, will be available for viewing through Sunday, March 26.

Eden Pieper modeled Susan Heeringa-Pieper's design "Caffeine Couture,' made from used coffee filters and aluminum pop tops, at the Sonoma Community Center's Trashion Fashion Show last Saturday, March 19. High couture made from lowly rubbish graced the catwalk at the Vets Building for an appreciative crowd. (Photos by Robbi Pengelly
Eden Pieper modeled Susan Heeringa-Pieper’s design “Caffeine Couture,’ made from used coffee filters and aluminum pop tops at the 2016 Trashion Fashion Show. (Robbi Pengelly)

On Saturday, March 25, the Seventh Annual Trashion Fashion Runway Show will be held at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall, 126 1st Street West, Sonoma. Over 30 designers – both professional and amateur – will unveil their extravagant, fun, creative and original fashions, made with recycled materials and discarded objects.

“Trashion Fashion is a powerful reminder that so much of what we throw away everyday can be reused or repurposed. A little creativity can transform what we normally think of as junk into something remarkable,” explains the Center’s Special Projects Manager Margaret Hatcher.

Robert Stickley, who took first prize, modeled his own design - "Remodel Shaman," made from security window envelopes, beer bottle caps, and miscellaneous construction-site detritus - at the Sonoma Community Center's Trashion Fashion Show last Saturday, March 19. High couture made from lowly rubbish graced the catwalk at the Vets Building before an appreciative crowd. (Photos by Robbi Pengelly
Robert Stickley, who took first prize at last year’s Trashion Fashion Show, modeled his own design – “Remodel Shaman,” made from security window envelopes, beer bottle caps, and miscellaneous construction-site detritus. (Robbi Pengelly)

Trashion Fashion Week closes out the week with “Dogs on the Catwalk,” Sonoma’s first Trashion fashion show for dogs, on Sunday, March 26, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sonoma Community Center. The deadline to apply to be part of the show is March 17, 2017.

For more information, visit the Sonoma Community Center’s events page or call (707) 938-4626.

Highlights from previous Trashion Fashion Shows:

Amanda Luippold designed and modeled "Crystal Vision," made from shipment packaging, at the Sonoma Community Center's Trashion Fashion Show last Saturday, March 19. High couture made from lowly rubbish graced the catwalk at the Vets Building before an appreciative crowd. (Photos by Robbi
Amanda Luippold designed and modeled “Crystal Vision,” made from shipment packaging, at the Sonoma Community Center’s Trashion Fashion Show 2016. (Robbi Pengelly)
“Gone to the Dogs” by Alexa Wood and Joni Derickson, made from dog food bags. (Melinda Kelley)
“Reel time” by Jeanine Briggs using discarded movie film. Photo by Melinda Kelley
Model Kelly Rose Gibbons wears designer Marcy Waldron's "Recycle Yourself! Be an Organ Donor" dress, made of a plastic table cloth, candy wrappers and plastic cup lids painted pink to represent the donor dot on a driver's license, during the Trashion Fashion Show, where designers create outfits out of recycled materials, at the Sonoma Community Center in Sonoma, Calif., on April 26, 2013. (Alvin Jornad
Model Kelly Rose Gibbons wears designer Marcy Waldron’s “Recycle Yourself! Be an Organ Donor” dress, made of a plastic table cloth, candy wrappers and plastic cup lids painted pink to represent the donor dot on a driver’s license, during the Trashion Fashion Show 2013. (Alvin Jornada)