Austin, TX — Bottle caps, plastic bags, fish scales and even used applesauce containers may sound like trash, but in the hands of some Central Texas designers, they’re runway material.
The 16th Annual Trash Makeover Challenge returns Saturday, Sept. 26, challenging designers to transform discarded materials into elaborate fashion while raising money for the Texas Campaign for the Environment.
This year’s theme is “Cosmic Couture,” putting an intergalactic spin on the annual sustainable fashion show.
There’s one major rule: At least 90% of every outfit must be made from repurposed materials.
“It’s amazing what these designers, the teams, everything from the hair, makeup, and especially the creation of the garments themselves,” fashion show producer Ceci Guevara told CBS Austin. She said even the amount of “dumpster diving” that goes into creating the looks is impressive.
Turning trash into treasure
The challenge has been held since 2011 as an annual fundraiser for the Texas Campaign for the Environment.
Organizers say more than 150 original designs have been created from waste over the years, while the event has raised more than $1 million for environmental causes.
The materials can be as creative as the finished looks.
Last year’s winner, Veronica Leon Vivanco, has participated in the competition since 2013. Her winning quinceañera-themed design incorporated hundreds of plastic bags and fish scales.
For this year’s space-inspired challenge, Vivanco is finding a new use for something she has been saving for years: hundreds of plastic applesauce containers her daughters used when they were younger.
Vivanco said she held onto the containers thinking that one day she would make something from them.
Fashion with an environmental message
While the designs are meant to grab attention, organizers say the larger goal is to get people thinking differently about what they throw away.
Guevara said the event brings fashion and environmental advocacy together to encourage people to be more conscious of waste and keep reusable materials out of landfills.
The evening will also include live and silent auctions. Proceeds benefit the Texas Campaign for the Environment, which works on issues including recycling, composting, electronic waste, single-use plastics and other environmental policies.
Trash Makeover Challenge event details
When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: TDS Event Pavilion & Wildlife Ranch, Southeast Travis County
Theme: Cosmic Couture
More information and tickets: TrashMakeover.com
Organizers say the event typically sells out, and tickets may close several days before the show if capacity is reached.