Runway contest offer secondhand chance to make a first impression

Reducing your environmental footprint has become an urgent goal for a growing number of consumers.

Thrifting and supporting sustainable fashion are some of the ways to balance the negative effects of overproduction and fast fashion.

Some reality shows — like Bravo's "Project Runway" and the brand-new "OMG Fashun" on E! — with have made these ideas more fun with competitive challenges, requiring designers to use sourced or unconventional materials to create a new garment.

The new competition Revive the Runway and its junior version, both happening this weekend, will bring the same competitive spirit to the community by rethinking thrift.

Kristin Palm, the sales and marketing manager for Junk-Atique Outlet Thrift Shop and "Project Runway" fan, said knowing we have one planet we need to take care of has changed her thinking.

"I have personally been on a journey thinking sustainably. I'm burdened by what fast fashion is doing to our planet."

Working on how to get out in the community with fun ways to engage with thrift, she was hit by inspiration: "In the middle of the night, I just had this wild idea where people had to upcycle secondhand items."

She brought in Amanda Shaffer, owner of The Studio, which offers sewing classes and workshops; and Jenifer Britton, Junk-Atique's merchandising manager.

Speaking just days before the first event, she joked that the team is "ready to pull our hair out but we’re so pumped."

About 25 designers — split in beginner, intermediate and expert categories — will each present a look on Friday that was created with secondhand, donated or thrifted materials. Each contestant received a gift card to Junk-Atique to source some components for the design.

"Items are thrifted or secondhand," Palm said. "If they’re pulling from their own collection, that’s great. They are allowed to use some new pieces to supplement.

"The main focus is that it has to look different than the original piece ... Curtains, blankets, a sleeping bag — how creative can you get?"

Palm said seeing some of the sneak peeks of looks coming through that the audience is "not going to be disappointed."

"I get butterflies in my stomach thinking how they're going to look going down that runway."

Intermediate competitor Madison Cowan said she is excited to compete in the fashion show.

The artist and instructor learned about the event from Shaffer, one of her studio mates at Three Door Studios.

She sees the event as "a super fun and easy way to get creative with no crazy limitations."

"I don’t have to worry about money, judgment, or lack of skill," she wrote in an email. "What I make is exactly what I make."

Cowan's look for the contest, which she created for her best friend's daughter to model, took about eight hours over two days.

After brainstorming some ambitious design ideas, she instead took inspiration sourcing materials from Junk-Atique including fun tablecloths, embroidery pieces and table runners, which she described as "frequent materials I look for when I upcycle personal items."

The designer is looking forward to seeing what others have designed and seeing her grandmother's reaction to her creation.

Judges for the event at Junk-Atique are Demmi Adelina Nunn of Adelina Interiors, Number 46 owner and sustainable stylist Josette Kouyomjian and Glenda Garcia, a member of the board for the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

Prior to the runway event, attendees will be able to browse inside Junk-Atique as well as shop the Makers Market featuring local creators and artisans.

Vendors featured in the market are Melanin & Moonlight (handcrafted clay earrings), Floresita's Bows (hair bows and accessories), CastiCrafty (glass cups, plastic cups, T-shirts and totes), Heart Beadz 4 Fun (jewelry), Sew Simply Tiffany, Birch & Leaf Design (jewelry), The Glass Garden 661 (upcycled creations for home and garden), That Crazy Redhead Creations (jewelry), Pure Divine (handcrafted bath and body products), Tricycle Soap Co., Debra Shavers-Stewart Jones aka The Jean Queen, Kreative Krochet, Alive Style 661 (plants) and Dizzy Daisy Dezines (mixed-media art).

Snacks will be available from Lemon Maid (fresh-squeezed lemonade) and Babmokja (Korean barbecue street food).

The fun continues Saturday with Revive the Runway Jr., featuring the work of designers ages 8 to 13.

Palm said when coming up with the event, the team wanted to be able to include those whose skills aren't as developed as the older designers.

"We didn't want to leave that age group behind. The creativity of those young minds being able to create a space for them and teach them young to think sustainably."

Some of those competing in the event at Three Door Studios are students of Shaffer or Cowan.

For this contest, designers are only required to present one created piece, not necessarily an entire upcycled look.

The junior contest will be judged by Jocelyn Dimaya-Thurley, who runs the fashion and design program at Bakersfield High School.

In addition to the competition on Friday, there will be creative stations run by Junk-Atique and The Studio for families with children who may be inspired to create and play.

Seeing sustainable fashion presented in such a creative way may inspire attendees to try their hand at upcycling, Cowan said.

"You don't need a fortune or fancy materials to make good work. All you need is the willingness to try!"