Trash to Fashion is a community-led organization that produces zero-waste events and teaches people how to turn trash into fashion to reduce pollution and create a healthier environment for all.
Trash to Fashion es una organización que produce eventos sin desperdicios y enseña a la gente a transformar la basura en ropa de moda para reducir la contaminación y crear un medio ambiente más saludable para todos.
Plus we are a proud affiliate organization of Zero Waste USA!
What is Zero Waste? It doesn’t sound fun.
The Zero-Waste International Alliance defines Zero Waste as,
“The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
We agree that definition sounds kind of austere. So we make Zero Waste fun! Our joyful, creative community events get people of all ages learning together, practicing together, and celebrating together. Read about our first ever Trash to Fashion Workshop & Ball, held on October 11th 2025 at Bregamos Community Theater and check out the photos here, and on our Instagram.
We Appreciate Your Support!
Why support Trash to Fashion?
Folks have expressed confusion lately. “Why should I support you when you’re run by Yale and Yale has so much?”
Ack! We’re not run by Yale. We don’t receive money from Yale (except for a $500 sponsorship from the Office of New Haven Affairs in 2025.)
Trash to Fashion is a community-led organization, created by New Haven social “artrepreneur” Rebekah Fraser and run by her and a wonderful team of creative people from the Greater New Haven area’s arts, environment and nonprofit scene. (Learn more below.)
In 2025, Fraser established a fiscal sponsorship with Dwight Hall at Yale that allows Trash to Fashion to use Dwight Hall’s 501c3 nonprofit status to accept tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate sponsorships, and grant money that would otherwise be unavailable to her. Dwight Hall also assists Ms. Fraser with administrative tasks and documentation related to funds raised. In exchange for these services, Trash to Fashion pays Dwight Hall 6% of all funds received using their nonprofit status.
So like most startup social endeavors, Trash to Fashion did not start with a bank account, it started with a vision. Scroll down to read about our volunteer team, our community partners, our funders and our past events.
2025 Events / Eventos Anteriores
October 11: Trash to Fashion Workshop & Ball @ Bregamos Community Theater.
Join us for a 90-minute trashion making workshop, followed by a celebration with DJ and dancing, photographer, zero-waste catering, and a textile recycling drive. Family friendly + Free to attend. Advance registration required.
July 19 -August 17: Pop-Up Trash to Fashion exhibit @ 63 Audubon St. Featuring garments and accessories by New Haven’s top designers and visual artists, as well as new and emerging artists.
Open Thursdays through Sundays 12 PM-4 PM
July 25: Opening Reception @ 63 Audubon St. 5 PM -7 PM
Featuring local author Tara L. Roí reading from her forthcoming novel, Refashioned by Love.
August 9: Think Like a Trashionista Workshop @ 63 Audubon St. 2 PM - 4 PM
Learn how to see materials differently and conceive and sketch garments made from trash. Free to attend. Advance registration required.
Early Days
When we launched this site in May 2025, we were planning ONE single event for the year - the Trash to Fashion Workshop & Ball (now called Create & Celebrate.) Thanks to the community partners, funders, and individuals named below, we exceeded our goals to produce 4 events in our first year.
2025 Partners & Collaborators / Socios y Colaboradores
EcoWorks Creative Reuse Center
Ely Center of Contemporary Art
New Haven Solid Waste & Recycling Authority
2025 Sponsorship & Grant Funding from / Auspiciado y Subvencionado por:
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Design School for Regenerating Earth Forests of the NE Fundshare
Ely Center of Contemporary Art
Goodwill of Southern New England
The Greater New Haven Green Fund
Luminous Environments
New England Grassroots Environment Fund
Yale Office of New Haven Affairs
Would your business like to sponsor Trash to Fashion’s 2026 Events? ¿Te gustaría que tu negocio patrocinara los eventos de Trash to Fashion?
Trash to Fashion accepts tax-deductible donations through our fiduciary agent Dwight Hall at Yale.
Trash to Fashion acepta donativos a través de nuestro patrocinador fiscal, Dwight Hall Yale.
To make a personal contribution, click below. / Para hacer un donativo personal, haz click abajo.
Let’s Make Upcycled Clothes Together & Celebrate / Hagamos ropa con materiales reciclados juntos y celebremos.
Want to know more about Trash to Fashion’s events? You can get details delivered to your inbox.
¿Quieres saber más sobre los eventos de Trash to Fashion? Puedes recibir detalles por correo electrónico.
Subscribe for FREE now to stay in the loop.
Suscribete GRATIS ahora para mantenerte al tanto.
Need more reasons to stay in touch?
¿Necesitas más razones para mentenerte en contacto?
Let’s talk about the environmental impact of our textile purchasing and disposal choices.
Hablemos del impacto ambiental de nuestras compras de textiles y nuestras decisiones sobre cómo deshacernos de la ropa.
On this blog and in the newsletter, you’ll find resources and information about:
En este blog y hoja informativa, encontrarás recursos e información sobre:
upcycling / reciclaje de ropa,
clothing swaps / intercambios de ropa,
purchasing pre-owned clothing / cómo comprar ropa usada,
deadstock fabric / tejidos sobrantes,
clothing repair, and / reparación de ropa y
other forms of creative waste diversion / otras formas creativas de redirigir desechos.
You’ll also learn how to make clothing and decor in a free or low-cost, lighthearted, yet meaningful way that produces minimal or positive environmental impact.
Aprenderás también a hacer ropa y decoraciones de una forma gratuita o barata, alegre y a la vez significativa con un impacto ambiental mínimo o positivo.
Stay up-to-date / Mantente al día.
Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
No te pierdas ninguna noticia--cada publicación nueva te llega a tu buzón de correo electrónico. Para tener una experiencia de lectura libre de correo basura y de anuncios, además de contenido de audio e interés comunitario, obtén la aplicación de Substack.
Who We Are / ¿Quiénes somos?
Trash to Fashion is gaining momentum thanks to the insights and efforts of:
Trash to Fashion se está poniendo de moda gracias a las ideas y esfuerzos de:
Aimée Burg ~ Ely Center of Contemporary Art
Derek Faulkner ~ SCSU Division of Research & Innovation
Rebekah Fraser ~ Founder & Director / Fundadora y Directora, Trash to Fashion
IfeMichelle Gardin ~ Founder / Fundadora, Kulturally Lit
Soule Golden ~ Barnard College, Lecturer in Costume Design / Instructora de Diseño de Vestuario
Mistina Hanscom ~ Founder / Fundadora, Lotta Studio
Tea Montgomery ~ Designer & Founder / Fundador, Threads by Tea
Johnny Scafidi ~ Dwight Hall at Yale
Lisa Spetrini ~ Creative Reuse Specialist, Co-Founder / EcoWorks
