Fashion Show in Orlando to Feature Eco-Friendly Garbage-Inspired Designs

ORLANDO, Fla. – During my visit to Eagle Nest Park in Orlando, I observed a significant amount of litter around the pond. Among the waste strewn on the ground were discarded water bottle plastic wraps, shopping bags, takeout containers, and cups.

Oddly, just steps away at a pavilion, there were two empty trash cans.

There’s a group working to bring the awareness of waste and sustainability by turning trash into wearable fashion.

Italia Alicea spent months working on a unique dress using materials like grocery bags, plastic mailers, bubble wrap and packaging straps.

After being encouraged by a friend, she decided to take part as a designer in the Trash 2 Trends fashion show. Her goal is to inspire others to find new purposes for items that are typically viewed as garbage.

Italia shared, “I engage in various craft activities with children as part of occupational therapy. Crafting materials can be quite costly, so I often utilize items like cereal boxes and recycled paper. This way, nothing goes to waste, and we make the most out of what we have.”

She’ll be showing off her completed look at the 10th annual Trash 2 Trends fashion show at the Orlando Science Center on May 7. Keep Orlando Beautiful and Goodwill are teaming up to promote sustainability and raise money for community initiatives geared toward solutions to the growing waste problem.

“When I see all these single-use plastics at a park like this, it just reminds me of our addiction to single-use plastics as a culture… It’s everywhere and engrained in our culture. We need to change that,” Executive Director of Keep Orlando Beautiful, Inc. Madison Szathmary said.

Instead of just talking trash the organization is rolling out a unique way to bring awareness with more than 20 artists like Lindsay Agnew giving trash new life.

“My outfit is called the Grocery Statement,” Agnew said.

Hundreds of shopping bags from different stores was repurposed for this outfit.

“This is just one of the most single-use items that people are using that gets thrown in the trash that can’t be 100 percent recycled,” Agnew said.

The runway opens Wednesday hoping to inspire guests to reduce, reuse and recycle

“It’s just exciting to use things that had a purpose before and to give them new life,” Italia said. “I’m excited to see what others have come up with.”

Trash 2 Trends takes place Wednesday, May 7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center.

Tickets for the “Trash 2 Trends Fashion Show presented by Goodwill Industries of Central Florida” cost $48, which includes dinner and free parking at the Orlando Science Center garage. Click HERE to purchase tickets. Attendees must be at least 21 years old.