Fashionista creates a dress from adult diapers and Christmas ornaments

The repurpose fashion show and design competition was won by Kate Oxley, a 37 year old school teacher who made her look entirely from adult diapers and deconstructed Christmas ornaments found at Goodwill Fort Worth locations.

Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc. recently hosted Project Goodwill, a fashion show, design competition and fundraiser gala supporting the mission of the nonprofit. The 2019 event raised $31,115.28.

Aspiring designers from the community were tasked with designing wearable garments using $100 worth of unconventional materials from local Goodwill stores and presenting those looks in a runway show during the event.

Over the years, participants have used materials including lampshades, album covers, tin-foil pans, air filters and more to complete their looks. While all fabric had to be from a Goodwill Fort Worth location, trimmings/notions could be purchased from another location. Contestants could use clothing as material, but completely rework it, for example taking the material from pants and turning it into a skirt.

The fashion show was judged by industry professionals including Joe Allen Brown, professor of Theatre Arts at Texas Wesleyan University; Melina Mayfield-Williams, assistant buyer at Neiman Marcus; and Kanani Mahelona, design consultant; Celebrity fashion show judges were Toni Estes, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, photographer and fashionista; and Paige McCoy Smith, WFAA’s Good Morning Texas reporter/producer.

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Contestants competed for top honors in design materials and method, and runway presentation.

First place and People’s Choice went to Kate Oxley, a 37 year old school teacher, who designed a dress made entirely from adult diapers and deconstructed Christmas ornaments. Oxley received a $1,250 cash prize, a $100 gift certificate to Goodwill Fort Worth, a Mood prize pack and a Bernette sewing machine courtesy of Berry Patch Fabrics.

Other finalists included second place, Renacio Reyes who won a $750 cash prize, a $100 gift certificate to Goodwill Fort Worth and a Mood prize pack, and third place, Shauna Lowry, who won a $500 cash prize, a $100 gift card to Goodwill Fort Worth and a Mood prize pack.

All proceeds go to the Moncrief-Ryan Scholarship Fund supporting initiatives focusing on providing jobs and job training for the homeless, at-risk youth, veterans, the disadvantaged and the disabled.

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“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to local fashion design students and design enthusiasts,” David Cox, president and CEO, said in a news release. “It is inspiring to watch these individuals take everyday clothing and household goods from our stores and repurpose them into runway-ready looks.”

Goodwill is the largest employer of people with disabilities in the world, the news release said, adding that Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust and friendships.

Goodwill Fort Worth has 25 retail locations that provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support the organization’s mission – job training and career services for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities and other barriers to employment including lack of education or work experience and homelessness.

www.goodwillfortworth.org

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– FWBP Staff