PROJECT GOODWILL 2023 CHALLENGED ASPIRING FASHIONISTAS TO CREATE LOOKS FROM UNCONVENTIONAL MATERIALS IN UPCYCLE FASHION SHOW
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (May 11, 2023) – Goodwill North Central Texas’ Project Goodwill was held on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth, raising more than $20,000 for the nonprofit.
This fashion show, design competition and fundraiser gala tasked aspiring designers from the community with designing wearable garments using $100 worth of unconventional materials from local Goodwill stores and presenting those looks in a runway show. In 2023, 11 aspiring designers used materials like doll parts, wicker baskets, shower curtains, plastic grapes, gloves, luggage, lampshades and more to complete their looks. Contestants competed for top honors in design materials, method and runway presentation.
This year’s first place prize and People’s Choice award went to Kate Oxley, who designed a dress using clear plastic shower curtains, white sun hats, and even plastic Goodwill shopping bags to complete her look. Her look visually shared the 121-year history of our organization and the good work of Goodwill. Emily Mitchell won second place, with a dress made from hundreds of book pages, graduation gowns and a sequin stuffed animal. And third place went to Christie Buresh for her dress made of suitcases, Christmas ornaments, a clock and curtains.
“This is not an outfit competition, it’s a true design competition featuring runway-ready looks,” said Shay Gipson, Vice President of Community Engagement. “Goodwill is proud to be one of the largest recyclers in North Texas, and showcasing secondary uses for everyday household goods and clothing is just one way of emphasizing the importance of reusing and upcycling in promoting sustainability.”
The 2023 fashion show was hosted by Anthony Elle, winner of Project Runway All Stars, Season 6 and of HGTV’s Rock the Block. The fashion show was judged by industry professionals including Director of Customer Care for Kendra Scott, Lyndsay Baylor; Professor of Theatre Arts at Texas Wesleyan University, Joe Allen Brown; Plus-Size Reseller and Body-Positive Activist, Dearrine Morrow (@thedivaofcurvestx); and Design Consultant, Kanani Mahelona.
Project Goodwill benefits the mission of the nonprofit – to empower people with disabilities, disadvantages and other barriers to employment so they may achieve maximum independence. 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 formerly incarcerated and the people with disabilities.
About Goodwill North Central Texas
Goodwill is more than a thrift store. The largest employer of people with disabilities in the world, Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust and friendships. Everyone deserves this chance.
Goodwill North Central Texas is based in Fort Worth and serves 18 counties in the region. The nonprofit’s 27 area retail locations provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support Goodwill’s mission to CREATE lives of independence and BUILD a stronger local community. Job training and career services programs for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities and other barriers to employment including lack of education or work experience and homelessness are guided by the organization’s vision of a North Central Texas where everyone person has the opportunity for maximum independence and abundant living. For more information, please visit www.GoodwillNorthCentralTexas.org.
