reduce, reuse, runway
Austin artists create more than 80 runway looks from reused materials
Some of the looks disguise used materials so well, you could never pick them out.
In a city that barely has seasons, Austin should be relatively free from the clothing waste that plagues the environment at the hands of fast fashion. But there is a cultural desire for newness that reaches even into this casual city, and that contributes to the constant cycling of clothes.
Local non-profit Austin Creative Reuse (ACR) has rounded up some eco-friendly designs to inspire Austinites to fight against this trend. Models in Reuse on the Runway: A Night of Fashion, Costume and Drag will walk more than 80 looks down a runway on May 4; All the looks will feature a reused material. In addition to the main fashion show, a sci-fi category pays homage to the date ("May the fourth be with you," some might say).
This is the third ACR fashion show. Photos from previous shows prove that this isn't just an art project for proving a point; These designs look professional and wearable. Many of the reused materials are impossible to suss out, even with a close look.
“We’re delighted to bring Reuse on the Runway back to the community in a new larger venue," said ACR executive director Jennifer Evans in a press release. "The show aims to challenge creatives to look at materials in new ways and to inspire the audience to rethink how they view fashion ... that fashion can be both spectacular and sustainable. Austinites and visitors will not want to miss this one-of-a-kind event.”
"Every year, people in the United States throw out more than 34 billion pounds of used textiles," shared the Boston University School of Public Health in 2022. One argument for fast fashion is that not everyone can afford to buy clothes from eco-friendly brands. However, this explanation does not hold up to a culture of Shein fashion hauls, which are often more about quantity than affordability.
Austin has some strong resale and discount stores — not just Goodwill, but consignment like Uptown Cheapskate and aftermarket like Nordstrom Rack — which greatly increase options in an affordable range. For those who would try their hand at making their own fashion, ACR operates a store in Windsor Park selling clothes, quilts, jewelry, thread, and other useful materials. It also hosts regular markets.
Other offerings currently visible in the online store are as diverse as painted antlers, Scrabble tiles, a dress form, colored pencils, and a clarinet. Community workshops also help provide inspiration.
Since 2015, ACR says it has "diverted more than 2.5 million pounds of usable creative materials from the landfill."
Tickets to Reuse on the Runway: A Night of Fashion, Costume and Drag ($12.50) and are available at visitaustincreativereuse.org. Individual and businesses sponsorships are also available.
The event includes a live auction, with items like SXSW passes, dinners for two, massages, and more. Photo courtesy of Zina Harding. 
Designer and teacher Teresa Klein is showing a look made from hundreds of recycled scantrons and tests from her students.Photo courtesy of Teresa Klein
The winning design in 2023, made by Megan Pinto.Photo courtesy of Megan Pinto