Water bottles, duct tape and denim scraps transformed into high fashion Tuesday night at the sold-out “Recycled Runway” show.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Water bottles, duct tape and denim scraps transformed into high fashion Tuesday night at the sold-out “Recycled Runway” show. It’s one of the signature events of Fashion Week Columbus and a celebration of sustainability, innovation and local talent.
The eco-conscious competition challenged emerging designers and fashion students to create zero-waste looks using repurposed materials that might otherwise end up in landfills. I
t’s a creative challenge with real-world urgency; central Ohio sends more than 46,000 tons of textiles to the Franklin County landfill each year, according to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio and this year’s presenting sponsor.
“I think it’s very important that we, as designers, think about the impact we have on the environment,” said Phantashia Johnson, a Columbus-based designer who has worked in corporate fashion for more than a decade. “I’ve seen firsthand how many samples and materials go to waste.”
Johnson’s runway look was inspired by her own household.
“We are a water-only house, and we have tons of water bottles,” she said. “So I was like, what can I do with these to make something creative — but keep it fun and keep it fashion?”
Recycled Runway is part of a weeklong lineup of events organized by Fashion Week Columbus, which is now in its 16th year.
Since its founding in 2010 by Thomas McClure, the event has evolved from a four-day show into Ohio’s largest fashion platform, producing more than 200 shows, awarding $70,000 in scholarships, and showcasing over 220 emerging designers and 2,000 models.
“When I founded Fashion Week Columbus, it was only a four-day event. That’s what we could afford at the time,” McClure said. “Now, in 2025, we have eight different events throughout the week. We’ve helped develop a full fashion ecosystem for central Ohio.”
McClure emphasizes that the ecosystem includes not just designers and models, but also makeup artists, stylists, photographers, and videographers — many of whom are small business owners.
“All of those people are either 1099s or LLCs, and they’re doing what they love here in Columbus, Ohio,” McClure said. “And that, to me, has changed the landscape — to now be recognized nationally as third in the country for the number of fashion designers who live here, right behind New York and L.A.”
“I tell people all the time — don’t overlook Ohio,” Johnson said. “We have tons of designers here, tons of artists, a lot of creativity. Events like this really help shine a light on all that local talent.”
Fashion Week Columbus is the flagship program of the Columbus Fashion Council, a nonprofit organization, also founded by McClure, that supports local fashion through scholarships, career development, and creative programming.
Funds raised through this week’s events help provide scholarships to fashion design students — many of them at Columbus College of Art & Design, though more recently expanded to other local institutions.
The programming continues to grow. In its early years, Recycled Runway drew about 100 guests; this year, more than 200 attendees packed the venue. The Finale Runway Show, set for Saturday, has doubled in size, expanding from 400 to 800 guests.
McClure said the sustainable message behind Recycled Runway is crucial as the fashion industry grapples with its environmental impact.
“The fashion industry is number two or three in the world for pollution, which is horrible,” he said. “We’re trying to raise awareness about using sustainable materials — whether you’re creating a duct tape dress or repurposing denim.”
While Fashion Week may be about the glitz and glamour on the surface, McClure hopes audiences walk away with a deeper understanding of what’s happening behind the scenes.
“What I want people to take away is that what they see on the runway is a collaboration,” he said. “It’s not just a production — it’s a launch for small businesses. And that’s very important, because the experience they create carries on beyond the runway.”
Fashion Week Columbus continues through Sept. 20. For a full schedule of events, visit fashionweekcolumbus.org.
