In an industry where fashion is the second leading polluter, there is DiscarDisco, an annual trash fashion competition that demonstrates that unwanted fabric can be used and re-”werked”
CHICAGO, IL (February 28, 2024) – The WasteShed, Chicagoland’s major resource for sustainable art, crafts, and educational supplies through creative reuse, will host the fifth annual fundraising event to raise $16,000 for the beloved non-profit and community staple.
DiscarDisco is a trash-fashion-show competition and fundraiser where contestants design and create runway looks entirely from post-consumer materials. Fashion and sustainability collide fabulously on the runway, embodying this year’s theme of “PatchWERK”. DiscarDisco is set to take place on April 13, 2024 at 7pm in the White City Ballroom located inside the historical Chicago Athletic Association, 12 S. Michigan Ave.
Sponsors include ComEd Powering The Arts and Paperworm Studios.
All proceeds from DiscarDisco support The WasteShed’s mission of diverting waste and providing affordable creative materials to educators, crafters, and artists in Chicago and Evanston.
Contestants purchase a ‘Designer Box,’ a mystery collection of upcycled fabrics and notions from The WasteShed. Contestants then submit designs by April 3rd, a quick turnaround that challenges designers to think out-of-the-box and get imaginative. Out of 44 entrants, only 20 contestants will compete for cash prizes which are awarded to the top three designs. Additionally, there will be a ‘people’s choice’ award determined by a donate-to-vote poll open to attendees and supporters.
DiscarDisco is not only a fashion show but also a sustainable soiree featuring a live runway show, dancing, crafting, food, a silent auction and raffle. The event will be live-streamed and produced into a video special. An awards ceremony will be immediately followed by a dance party to celebrate the resourcefulness and talent of our community.
According to The WasteShed’s founder, Eleanor Ray, “DiscarDisco is born from the ancient human impulse to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and then wear it around so everyone can admire it. The ingenuity, resourcefulness and craftsmanship that DiscarDisco attracts is truly staggering, and the opportunity for designers from different backgrounds and with different experiences to share and learn from each other is unique and invaluable.”
Tickets for DiscarDisco are available for purchase until April 13th, 2024. General admission tickets are $75 and include food and access to a cash bar. VIP tickets, priced at $150, offer access to a backstage lounge and complimentary drinks.
The WasteShed aims to raise over $16,000 from this year’s event, with the support of crowd-funding efforts that can be made directly on the website. The organization is actively seeking business and organizational sponsors for the remainder of the funds.About The WasteShed: Founded in 2014 by Eleanor Ray, The WasteShed provides Chicago with affordable repurposed arts, crafts, and school materials while promoting sustainability and creative reuse. Since its inception, The WasteShed has processed over 110 tons of donated materials and supplied educators with thousands of dollars’ worth of free materials. The organization expanded to a second location in Evanston, IL, to meet growing demand.
To learn more about The WasteShed’s mission and impact see thewasteshed.com/about
Information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets can be found at http://www.thewasteshed.com/discardisco
Past photos DD23 Photos
Contact:
Ulisa Blakely
Phone: (414) -737-6695
Email:ulisa@thewasteshed.edu
