In the lead-up to Sequim’s second Trashion Show — a featured event in the Sequim Irrigation Festival’s Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair — Christopher Allen said he hasn’t seen anyone seeking advice for an “impossible” project.

But he’s ready.

“I’m an optimist; you’ve got a crazy idea, I’m going to help you,” said Allen, who co-chairs the event this year with Jean Wyatt. “I’m not going to do it for you, but I’ll help you out.”

Allen, Wyatt and fellow show committee members Cherry Bibler and Michele Deo are welcoming entries to this year’s show, from the experienced upcyclers to the novices, to show off their creations at the event set for 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the James Center for the Arts bandshell at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Trashion outfits are made of clothing made from materials that might otherwise end up in the landfill. Show organizers note the outfits should be “clothing” made of recycled/re-purposed/non-traditional materials, with 75% of what can be seen being non-traditional materials (though foundation/structurally supportive undergarments are OK). Outfits can be functional/practical or can be artistic/wearable art, and should be “visually striking.”

To apply for the show or for more details, see irrigationfestival.com/site/event/trashion-show.

Allen noted there will be an encore of the Sequim show at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, at Studio Bob, 118 1/2 E. Front St., Port Angeles. Participants are encouraged to attend both shows.

To help those seeking assistance with outfits, from conception to technical aspects, organizers host workshops in Sequim and Port Angeles. For more about those, connect with Allen by calling Studio Bob in Port Angeles at 360-775-2160.

When Libby Ballard, co-chair of the 2023 Trashion Show, suggested doing an up-cycled fashion show in Sequim, Allen — a recycled metal artist who entered pieces in the FashionART event in Santa Cruz, Calif., in 2017 and 2018 — called it a “Trashion Show,” a growing trend in sustainable fashion.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Sequim Irrigation Festival’s first Trashion Show in 2023, Cherie Hendrickson, left, models the winning dress, designed by Cherry Bibler. The dress, made from Walmart plastic bags, recycled plastic and thrifted sheets, was revealed by Hendrickson to be reversible in a dramatic moment. Above Hendrickson is emcee Conor Dawley and left, models Kim Pratt and Trisha Cobb.

Organizers of the 2024 show are looking on building off last year’s inaugural event that saw eight entries. Bibler designed the winning dress, one made from Walmart plastic bags, recycled plastic and thrifted sheets, and modeled at the 2023 show by Cherie Hendrickson.

“We were actually really happy with what we got, based on the limited amount of time between conception of the idea and the event,” Allen said.

“We learned a lot more community outreach is necessary.”

With that in mind, 2024 show sponsor Studio Bob will have several workshops under its belt before the big show, including one set for noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. A Sequim-area workshop is set for Saturday, April 20 (see box).

“We provide a space for people to come in access to materials, and give advice on how to construct things,” Allen said.

Most newcomers to the up-cycle game have an idea but need to fine-tuning of their idea or some technical kn0w-how, Allen said, most often having to do with how to attach one material to another.

“Usually it’s, ‘How do I take this weird thing that I have and make it something?” he said. “Mostly it’s about construction and execution.”

As with last year’s event, Allen will have some pieces ready to go for the Sequim show and a drink-and-draw event at Studio Bob, including one piece made up in part from the backdrop of plastic sheeting he uses to paint objects for other art projects.

Trashion show outfits also don’t have to necessarily fit the theme of the Sequim Irrigation Festival itself (this year’s is “2024 Mountains to Shore Whatever You’re Looking For”).

“We have not wanted to tie people down to the festival theme yet, since this is just our second year,” Allen said, though he noted there may be room to have a theme-specific contest if the event grows.

People interested in getting into trashion/up-cycling artistry don’t even need to have a specific idea, Allen said; they can just grab someone and start wrapping things around them and see what

“It doesn’t have to be something someone wears every day; it just has to make it down the runway,” Allen said.

And, he said, hopefully the outfits stay together enough to be used as “educational devices” at workshops after the show is over.

These Trashion Show outfits, Allen said, “are not going to go into the trash after the show.”

‘Trashion Show’ workshop set for Saturday

The Sequim Arts Commission (SAC), in partnership with the Sequim Irrigation Festival Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair will be offering a free “Trashion Show” workshop, led by Libby Ballard and Cherry Bibler, and open to the public from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Guy Cole Event Center in Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Materials, tools, and inspiration will be provided, or participants may bring their own supplies to create unique trashion fashions. Learn more about upcycling and reusing non-traditional materials to create a wearable masterpiece.

RSVP by sending an email to the City of Sequim Arts Coordinator Sarah Hurt at shurt@sequimwa.gov or call 360-582-2477 to reserve a spot.