In a world overwhelmed by pollution and litter, with images of plastic-filled oceans and trash-clogged landfills constantly on our phones, it’s refreshing to find moments of beauty in what we throw away. That sense of creativity and whimsy is what makes the Bates Trashion Show so beloved.
In the words of Thomas Twist, the assistant director of sustainability, “The Bates Trashion Show is pretty unique in both its pomp and professionalism. It’s a nice blend of the ridiculous and the poignant, which is why I think it has endured for so long.”
Twist continued, saying that the show “subtly takes aim at fast fashion and our throwaway culture in an entertaining way.”
This year marked the seventeenth annual Trashion Show, a collaboration between the EcoReps and Bates Dining Services. Every look on the runway was created and modeled by Bates students, faculty and staff—each one made entirely from recycled trash, offering a creative reminder of our impact on the environment. The outfits featured recycled materials such as plastic, cardboard, bottlecaps, dum dum wrappers and recycled fabric.
The judging panel was a diverse mix of faculty and staff, including commons staff member Michael Staffenski, Professor Jakub Kazecki, Campus Safety staff Mark Cayer, Professor Christine Martinez, and Dean Reese from Global Education.
As the lights dimmed and the show began, the Gray Cage was buzzing with enthusiasm and anticipation. Djibril Diaw ‘27 served as the DJ for the event, while Leah Belber ‘26 and Catalina Passino ‘26 emceed, dressed in matching blue-and-green outfits (like the earth!).
The opening runway segment showcased upcycled outfits created in collaboration with Partners for World Health, a Maine-based nonprofit that repurposes excess medical supplies to strengthen global healthcare. The garments were made entirely from surgical blue wrap that would have otherwise been discarded. Following that segment, a parade of fantastic looks continued down the runway.
Every participant received a $10 Den gift card, while the top three designs earned larger prizes: third place received $25 to Forage, second place earned $50, and first place walked away with the coveted $75 Forage gift card.
Third place was awarded to the design created by Professor Kirk Read’s FYS class, “Family Stories”.
Second place went to Read himself, marking his fourth year participating in the Trashion Show. Last year he placed third; this year he climbed to second. Who knows what next year might bring?
First place was awarded to reigning champions Annie Robinson ‘26 and Grace Thomas ‘26.
The winning dress, co-designed by the dynamic duo, was inspired by two of college students’ most common consumption habits: shopping and drinking. The top was constructed from jeans, plastic, cardboard and hammock material woven together, accented with bottle-cap charms. The skirt consisted of pieces of old jeans sewn together as a base and garlands strung with hammered cans. Completing the ensemble were bottle-cap earrings and necklace, along with a wig fashioned from strips of fabric and plastic.
After the show, Robinson reflected on her second consecutive win. “It’s really exciting,” she said, a bright smile spreading across her face as recycled bottle-cap earrings dangled from her ears. “It’s such an honor to do this with one of my best friends. It’s a really special part of Bates, and I’m so happy I got to be part of it again,” she said.
Thomas shared, “It was so exciting to see everybody’s outfits—everybody really brought it this year!”
With both set to graduate in May, Robinson and Thomas will have to pass on their Trashion show crown (crafted from sustainable materials, of course), and give someone new the chance to claim the title next year!
Another fan-favorite look was from Mikayla Ferguson ‘28. “I really like costume design and fashion,” she said, sharing how she had made her own high school prom dress and Halloween costumes. “I completely forgot this was coming up,” she admitted, remembering only the previous Monday. She jumped into crafting right away: “I grabbed some old T-shirts, pulled out my sewing machine, and just whipped it up.”
Spectator Ava Elghanayan ‘26 reflected on the fun of the evening while also noting its deeper impact. “Every year when I go to the Trashion Show, it inspires me to be more sustainable in my everyday life.” The Trashion Show is an entertaining yet poignant reminder that our choices leave a lasting impact on the health of our planet and each other—so, as Thomas Twist says, “Choose wisely!”
