Sustainability enters the fashion world

The place to get your fashion kicks is no longer the mall—it’s the landfills.

Portland State will host the first annual Sustainable Fashion Show, put on by Portland State’s American Marketing Association and the Art Institute of Portland.

Jennica Waltman, a Portland State student and the event director for the aptly titled “Passion for Fashion: Ecouture” show, discussed the event.

“What we really want students to walk away with is alternatives to materials that are not effective on the environment,” Waltman said. “We want to teach about green manufacturing and green production in the fashion industry.”

The event will showcase student art from the Art Institute as well as four local sustainable designers, and some of the items will be up for sale, she explained.

There will be four sustainable focal points: organic, animal friendly, zero-waste and “rejectamenta,” meaning clothing made of recycled or discarded items.

“One girl made a dress out of broken umbrellas. So instead of that ending up in a landfill, we can use it,” Waltman said.

Sponsored by Scion, the show will be hosted by Starchile and feature performances from the Urban Arts Dance Performers and DJ OG One, the DJ for the Portland Trail Blazers. 

The event will be mainly runway style, with organic hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar.

For more information on tonight’s show and future events, log on to www.passionforfashionpdx.com.