Pop-can tabs, worn-out jeans, paper bags – the designers in the Trashion Refashion show see these regularly-adiscarded items as an opportunity to be eco-friendly, each of them bringing distinct experiences and skill sets to their designs.
For Doria Day, a freshman at Bloomington High School North, designing clothes is a passion , something she said she hopes to continue pursuing at Parsons School of Design in New York in her future.
“It all kind of started in kindergarten,” Day said, “I used to draw dresses.”
Participation in Trashion Refashion, however, began a couple of years ago for Day when she was a model in the show.
“When you model and are up there on the stage, everything is about you in that moment and what you’re wearing and how you present it,” Day said.
One year ago, she submitted her designs and became a designer for the show. Day said designing for this show revolves around working with the material, shaping the design around what works.
“It kind of opens your mind to new possibilities,” Day said, “You have to work with the material to come up with interesting designs.”
Day said she focused her designs around a certain material for this year’s show: denim.
“The title of my small collection is ‘Daydreams in Denim,’ and it’s all inspired by denim jeans,” Day said.
Another designer featured in the show is Jealousy Jane, an alter ego for Sheila Ferguson inspired by Jayne Mansfield. Ferguson has been participating in the show for seven of the eight years that the Trashion Refashion show has been running.
Ferguson said she discovered the show through social media, and decided to become involved. She said she crafted a look from satin sheets and a trend began.
Ferguson said she saw this as a new experience, normally being drawn to fabric as the go-to material, being a non-artist.
“I like very flowy, drapey fabrics, so this was very different for me,” Ferguson said, “I really enjoy working with found materials because I have to reach into my creativity.”
Ferguson has two designs featured in the Refashion segment of the show this year, one being a fun way to refashion layers of lace from other garments and the other piecing together discarded prom dresses into something more modern.
Former IU student David Ebbinghouse, also a Trashion Refashion designer, brings his background in art to his designs. After experiencing a bad lottery in New York, Ebbinghouse said he took up the practice of traveling to India and collecting ancient beads, teaching himself how to recreate jewelry as a source of income.
“If you need to know how to do something, go out and learn how to do it,” Ebbinghouse said.
Having no previous experience in design before being approached by a friend about being a part of it, Ebbinghouse said he was reluctant to take on the designer label, but ended up finding an audience through this experience.
“Designing these outfits has become a part of my art practice,” Ebbinghouse said.
Ebbinghouse said he revolves his experience of design around responding to both the materials and the models.
“Fashion is that you’re going to be yourself, only more,” Ebbinghouse said.
Ebbinghouse is putting on a show of his own at 5 p.m. Friday at the Blueline Gallery, allowing the audience to see 60 photographs by Shannon Zahnle. The photographer captures five years of his work, things that are not featured in the Trashion Refashion show and a closer view of his designs for this year, by walking his models through the audience.
Among these other designers, the Trashion Refashion show is also a special experience for mother Julie Finn, who is participating in the show with her 10-year-old daughter Sydney. Sydney designs in full detail while Julie does the sewing.
“I really like it because it’s her interest that I get to get into,” Julie said.
Sydney said that the materials can be the struggle of the project, as she has had projects in mind that she could not find the materials for.
“It’s kind of hard because you can’t just use fabric,” Sydney said, “I’m still searching for a sequined dress.”
This year, Sydney said her design features old Christmas lights, velvety pants, wings made from an old blanket, a silvery shirt and Velcro. Sydney said the audience can expect a lot from the show.
“Lots of lights, sometimes CDs, a narrator wearing a very fancy dress, and lots of surprising outfits,” Sydney said.
