We had the chance to interview Amy Merli of Trashion Fashion – check it out below! Also, be sure to catch the Trashion Fashion Soiree on April 25th at 7pm! reSET affiliates receive 20% off of their ticket by using promo code “reset” when purchasing a ticket at https://trashionfashionsoiree.eventbrite.com 



Trashion Fashion creates a direct connection for student and professional designers to repurpose waste and create fashion – waste that would otherwise be in the waste stream. Trashion Fashion is a community-driven effort to promote environmental awareness and support the local creative arts environment. Their events strive to be zero waste and leave the city greener than how we found it. They’ve been featured on NBC.com, CBS.com, MSN, NY Daily News & the NY Post. As part of a freshly-formed parent company, terra/ispum, the Trashion Fashion Show will
demonstrate our creativity and ability to capture attention for a company’s brand.

Where are you from?

I am from Harwinton, CT which is a small town in the northwest corner of CT. I’ve lived on and off in NYC for the past ten years but have relocated back in Hartford.

How did the Trashion Fashion Show start?

I founded Trashion Fashion in 2011, based on the idea of creating an eco-arts fusion show. I was watching a fashion show at a bar on the upper west side the fall before our first show that got me thinking. I was a principle dancer with a dance company that was interested in a conceptual photo shoot wearing newspaper skirts. I created five unique skirts all made with newspapers from my grandmother. After the photo shoot we decided to have a fashion show featuring the skirts on ballerinas. It was small, two other designers and only about 100 attendees. A good portion of the outfits I made were from the waste from my sister’s baby shower. We donated the proceeds to the Green Schools Alliance. With all of its progress and input, Trashion has transformed into a fashion show fusing together environmentalism and the arts. Last year we had shows in DC, NYC and in Hartford with close to 100 different designs featuring work by professional designers and students.

Where do the funds from the shows go?

The first year we donated the proceeds to the Green Schools Alliance and the 2nd-4th years we used the proceeds to create a scholarship fund for the Sustainable Farm School. We are currently in the process of building our outreach programs to inspire more youth to use creativity to resourcefully change the future. We have “trashion” programs in elementary schools to colleges.

How do you promote sustainability?

All designs in the show are made from 90% consumer waste that would otherwise be in the waste stream. It is very important for all designers to consider the life cycle of the garments from material sourcing, production to what happens after events. In our outreach programs with speak with young designers about their creative process.

Our shows strive to be zero-waste, we ask all participants to think green while being involved. We try to compost or recycled everything! We work hard to be green with marketing our event and choosing our partners. We believe it is important to “be the change you want to see in the world”.

We have seen a lot of paper materials used to create designs but I really love seeing unconventional materials being used. There has been many interesting uses of VHS tape, tin cans, parking tickets and plastic bottles. There is something very inspiring about using an item that is seen as waste (without value) and transforming it into something of beauty.

What else happens at the show?

The Trashion Fashion Shows have living installations, live music, dance performances, professional ballerinas as models en pointe in the runway, a choreographed runway, eco-vendors and feature partnerships with local socially responsible businesses and nonprofits. It is very important for us to strive to be zero-waste. We try to leave each city greener than we found it by giving away hundreds of seedlings, seed bombs and plants.

Our shows inspire awareness of a global sustainability movement. We want everyone to leave our events rethinking their world and feeling innovative.

One of our goals as a company is to inspire our audience to rethink what is possible. We allow anyone who wants to create a design to submit to our shows. We foresee a future that rethinks the cycle of waste and makes efforts to change it. This mindset empowers the public to choose socially responsible companies with transparent
sustainable practices. I have connected with many zero waste designers, sustainable fashion companies and companies that are using alternative materials for products such as looptworks, terracycle and Ekocyle. This is an exciting movement, growing every day. Designing with alternative materials can be extremely difficult. These materials don’t always mold to the body, feel comfortable for long term use or hold up after a while. It’s part of the challenge.

What is next?

Trashion Fashion Show is under a new parent company called terra/ipsum. terra/ipsum is a creative agency that captures attention through unique brand promotions and choreographed live commercials. We are also expanding our large shows, popup shows and “trashion” programs into more areas globally.