In a swirl of soda tabs, water bottles and other garbage garments, Desert Wind Middle School’s gymnasium transformed into a glittering catwalk of eco-conscious couture this afternoon as sixth graders strutted their stuff in the annual “Trashion Show.”
It is a fashion event where every garment is made entirely from recycled or repurposed materials.
The mission was simple: Students used upcycled materials to stylize clothes while representing countries from around the world. The red-carpet catwalk was lined with parents and classmates who watched as students showed off handmade outfits crafted from repurposed materials. They used everything from plastic water bottles and chip bags to bottle caps and cardboard.
Elijah Shivers, a soft-spoken sixth grader, said his look was partially inspired by a character from Fortnite.
Like many other students, Shiver’s ensemble included a water bottle belt, Coca-Cola can pockets and several accessories with mysterious but enthusiastic origins.
“I don’t know where this came from,” he said, pointing to a once discarded item on his belt. “But this is awesome,” he concluded, striking a proud pose.
Behind the sparkle was a noble cause:
“The very basic idea [of Trashion] is recycling,” explained Yricka Ursal, one of the event’s lead educators. “The kids had to bring in trash from home and turn that into an outfit they could flaunt. It’s about confidence, creativity and caring for the Earth.”
Ursal emphasized that the education from the Trashion Show went beyond cat walks and color palettes.
“This is a project aligned across English, math, science and social studies. In English, they write persuasively about why their costume is more sustainable. In math, they work within fake budgets. In social studies, they research a country and tie their outfit into an advocacy. Science and engineering tie in too,” she said proudly. “It’s STEAM (or science, technology, engineering, art and math) in action.”
Bleachers were packed with cheering students and a panel of Maricopa’s fiercest fashion critics, who scored each team’s outfit.
Before every walk, videos played on a big screen explaining the thought process behind the outfit — what materials were used, why they were chosen and which country the design aimed to represent.
Students embraced the challenge wholeheartedly.
“We learned how to recycle materials from our house and that was really fun,” said Randy Acosta-Madrid, whose top hat, vest and cardboard watch that might outsparkle a Rolex represented the United Kingdom.
“We learned how to calculate measurements for the suits,” he said, proudly showing off 18th century-inspired suit. “That was really fun.”
Some inspirations came from teachers, like Napoleon White’s chip-bag-covered shirt and custom cane. Representing Jamaica, he won Mr. Trashion Show 2025.
“My teacher gave us the idea,” he said. “My favorite part? The cane.”
Anessia Gray, who represented India, said the most challenging part was the material itself. “The hardest part about putting it all together is that we’re working with plastic, and if it gets wet, it’ll melt.”
She learned more than just plastic-handling.
“I learned creativity and how to recycle things, and I also learned about like teamwork,” said Gray.
Fashion, for many students, turned out to be a window into self-expression.
“The experience was really fun, and it really did teach us how to bring out the beauty in things,” said Lialah Vasquez, who represented Brazil. She worked primarily with plastic bags.
“I hope they… protect Mother Earth, take care of it and [learn to] throw trash away properly,” said Ursal when asked about the big takeaway for students. “Some things that are being thrown, we can do something out of it as well.”
The deeper value went beyond sustainability.
“Honestly, when it comes to Trashion Show, it will be added to their core memory,” she said. “It’s something that they’ll cherish forever.”
One look especially stood out to Ursal: a flowing skirt made from white trash bags, representing the Philippines. “I felt like she made use of those white trash bags to turn into a beautiful skirt. I loved it.”
The students weren’t the only ones learning something.
“We hope that parents are able to see a different side of their child,” said Ursal. “They might just be a normal child at home. I’m a mom too and I know with my child, I don’t normally see them ramping and boosting up their confidence. I hope it makes them super proud.”
