Trashion Fashion Runway Show winners take a bow

The 2024 Trashion Fashion Runway Show winners were announced at the annual Trash Bash Wrap Party on April 12. The popular fashion show displaying designs made from recycled items returned to Sonoma on April 6.

More than 200 guests gathered at the Sonoma Community Center to celebrate this year’s participants and winners. The party included a pasta feed and displays of the 2024 Runway entries.

The Judges’ Selections and the Republic of Thrift People’s Choice winners were announced for adult and children divisions.

Two sold-out Trashion Fashion Shows were hosted at the Veterans Memorial Hall on April 6. Three judges visited the dressing room to see designs up close and meet with the creative minds behind the 2024 entries.

The Vickie Soulier “Most Theatrical” Award went to “Arrival of Goddess,” designed by Nao Koboyashi. The entry featured three designs modeled by Jill Valavanis, Berta Hodges and the designer herself.

The late Judge Patricia Herron “Ready to Wear” Award went to “Kaleidoscope” designed by Kara McHale. The Janet Nusbaum “Best Use of Recycled Materials” Award was granted to “Leda’s Revenge” designed by Inika Wood.

The Teen Division Winner was “Dragon Bloom” designed by the Artquest High School Team called Trash Buds; made up of Alex Bourde, Flynn Byrne, Ray Owens and Wood Wood.

For the kids division, first place was awarded to “Latina Sisterhood” designed by the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance Team, Jocelin Tapia and her mentor, Susy Martes.

Second place was awarded to “REDwood Regal Picnic” designed by Kiele Hardcastle, and third place was awarded to “No Rain, No Rainbow” designed by Ellie Bell.

For the Republic of Thrift People’s Choice awards tallied audience votes, the adult division winner was McHale’s “Kaleidoscope” and “The Rose Reflection” designed by Alva Sandmark in the kids division.

Judges were selected based on their contributions to art and sustainability. Robert Mahar, an artist, educator and former contestant on NBC’s “Making It;” Trashion icon and former SCC Fiber Artist in Residence G. Spencer Morton; and Marie Kneemeyer, public education manager of recology and freelance zero waste artist, judged entries.

“The amount of joyful creativity on stage was palpable,” Mahar said in a Community Center press release. “I loved having a front row seat to the participants’ fashionable reworking of unconventional materials.”

Materials used in the 2024 winning designs included more than 450 aluminum cans rescued from Recology Sonoma Marin and more than 400 used dryer sheets collected over five years, and crocheted plastic bags.

“Trashion Fashion Sonoma is a home-grown and beloved Sonoma Valley event that is growing up. It is now recognized in Northern California as a leader in the creative waste management movement,” Molly Spencer, director of Trashion Fashion, said. “Although judging is part of the runway show, the real joy is watching the camaraderie of the participants from all generations building confidence into their everyday lives and truly creating with their community.”

The annual event along with the Trashion Barbie: Reclaimed & Reinvented Gallery and Silent Auction, are one of the largest fundraisers for the Community Center.

You can reach Staff Writer Emma Molloy at emma.molloy@sonomanews.com.