Vibrant sparkles, radical acceptance, flamboyant creativity, safety in expression, unbridled joy—these are just a few phrases that describe this year’s Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County Trashion Show. The show was created six years ago by Hillary Pritchard, Habitat’s operations manager, as part of Habitat’s annual auction in support of repurposing and reusing materials. Now the Trashion Show has blossomed into a stand-alone event, thanks to the tremendous support from the public. The first solo performance took place in 2024 and was a huge success.
“I want to say 130-150 [people attended], it was great. We sold a lot of tickets and got a lot of excitement from community members and sponsors as well. It was a great turnout,” says Kelli Fulton-Ratliff, events and donor relations manager for Habitat. Habitat raised a total of $20,000 in 2024, and for good reason.
Photograph by Chloe Nelson
The Trashion Show is unlike any other public show in Whatcom County. Not only are there fun yearly themes, but at least 75% of each outfit needs to be made from trash to qualify. In the past designers have used recycled bits from men’s ties, flattened bottle caps, fabric scraps, and recycled plastic bottles in their outfits. There are four cash prizes for each show: Most Wearable ($250), Most Trashy ($250), and Most On Theme ($500) are scored by a small panel of judges, while People’s Choice ($300) is voted on by attendees. Designers can either model their ensemble themselves or bring someone to model their piece.
Photograph by Chloe Nelson
This year’s theme was Whimsical Wonderland, a response to the public’s desire to create an environmental ensemble.
“People last year were like, ‘You should do something where people are creatures, because we want to build outfits with arms coming off of them, like a nature theme,’” says Elle England, Habitat’s communications manager. “Once we secured our spot at the Circus Guild, it easily evolved into being more of an enchanted circus theme, just because it goes so well with the venue.”
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
Bellingham’s Circus Guild was packed to the brim on May 3, and Habitat provided lots of pre-show activities. Fun drinks, tarot readings, and an auction for goodie baskets entertained the audience before and after the show. Right when you stepped in the door, an employee was waiting to apply wet glitter to everyone’s faces with a paintbrush, helping people get into a fun, creative mood. As such, the crowd’s energy was high before the show even started, so you can imagine the volume of the room during each model’s walk. The sheer amount of support and joy radiating from audience members was contagious as they cheered loudly for their favorite looks. This year’s designers brought unique looks to the table, including tea party dresses, a dragon with a sloth puppet dressed like a knight, and a model with an ocean net draped across their body.
“People are so creative that you’re like, ‘How did they even put that together?’ Then at the same time, I wish I had that creativity where I could look at garbage and see a dress,” says England. Not only do the outfits look incredible, but the fact that they also hold up through movement, in itself, is impressive. “It’s one thing to be like, ‘this is a good idea,’ and another to make it look that good. Then it stays together for a whole fashion show, they’re walking up and down the runway and not falling apart.”
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
After the exhibition finished, audience members were given the opportunity to meet the models/designers and see the clothes up close.
This year, there were three winners of the Trashion Show. Nancy Watts, a retired middle school science teacher, won “Most Wearable” and “People’s Choice” for her outfit titled “Garden of Transparencies.” Watts’ outfit was modeled by Graciela Leibowitz and was made from recycled overhead projectors and included a stole made from teddy bears.
“Garden of Transparencies” by Nancy Watts | Photograph by Chloe Nelson
The “Whimsical Visionary” award went to “Trash Dragon,” designed and modeled by Tatiana Stone. This look was composed of bubble wrap insulation, plastic and cardboard food containers, and repurposed personal protective equipment (PPE)—and, of course, a sloth puppet dressed like a knight to slay the dragon!
“Trash Dragon” by Tatiana Stone | Photograph by Kristen Boehm
“It was a wonderland theme, so I thought of fairytales and I was like, ‘I gotta be a trash dragon,’” says Stone. You’d never know from looking at it that Stone started this masterpiece only four days before the fashion show.
Last but not least, the award for “Best Use of Trash” went to “Office Siren Vendetta,” known at the time as “Bride of the Tide,” designed by Isabella Antoun and Sophia McCracken and modeled by McCracken. The beach inspired this outfit, with components such as a roll of film, broken plates, a thrifted wedding gown, circuit boards, wires, and sea glass.
“Bride of the Tide” by Isabella Antoun & Sophia McCracken | Photograph by Chloe Nelson
If you want to enjoy a show featuring some of the most supportive, funny and creative people you’ll ever meet, don’t miss the 7th annual Trashion Show in 2026!
1825 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, 360.715.9170, hfhwhatcom.org
