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On October 16 at the Community Arts Workshop (CAW) in Santa Barbara, six local designers unveiled collections made entirely from recycled materials. This is UpCycle Couture, the debut fashion show presented by the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative in collaboration with Explore Ecology and Art From Scrap that’s looking to transform Santa Barbara’s fashionistas into eco-conscious consumers.
As consumers, we have a responsibility to offset the already incredible amount of waste and pollution the fashion industry emits into our environment, so argues Community Environmental Council (CEC) Executive Director Kathi King. King opened the show by highlighting the ways that the fashion industry has become a detriment to our environment, from mountains of wasted clothing to toxic emissions, all to satisfy our needs to align with quickly-changing trends. CEC is a local organization that works with local communities to reverse, repair, and protect against the growing effects of climate change. When it comes to our habits with fashion, King encourages people to start small: wash your clothes in cold water, use laundry detergent that doesn’t come in hefty plastic packaging, and of course, shop second-hand whenever you can.
Adrienne De Guevara, Programs and Fund Development Officer of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, opens UpCycle Couture. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Designs by Ramour, designer is Celeste Castillo | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Look by Team Mama, designer is Marie-Pier Tremblay. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Looks by Erica Huff Studio, designs by Erica Huff. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Look by Team Mama, designer is Marie-Pier Tremblay. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Look by Naked Dress Mink Stole, designers are Irene Ramirez and Nina Schmits. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Look by team Antiflo, designers Mariah Gardner, Lauren Hovey, and Rio Pett. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Kathi King, Executive Director of Community Environmental Council (CEC) speaks about fast fashion and its environmental effects. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Designs by Ramour, designer is Celeste Castillo. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Look by team Antiflo, designers Mariah Gardner, Lauren Hovey, and Rio Pett. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos 
Look by team Antiflo, designers Mariah Gardner, Lauren Hovey, and Rio Pett. | Credit: @paolo.sb.photos
The night was dedicated to the memory of CAW’s former Outreach Committee member Jami Joselle Nielsen, an eco-activist and artist who started the fabric-based art experience Recycled Show. The event featured a social hour with mannequin-lad photo ops, opportunities to bid on looks in a silent auction, make crafts with Art from Scrap, and peruse Recycled Show.
At the end of the night, the six eco-conscious designers were rated by a panel of judges on artisanship and innovation. The winners of the show included Morgan Robersts of Borgo who won a Trunk Show at Loveworn in the Funkzone, Team Antiflo who on a mentorship with Nina Q from Nina Q Style, team Naked Dress Mink Stole who won a won a mentorship with Catherine Gee, and Erica Huff Studio whose collection for sale at Neighbor Neighbor.
