West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show 2025 theme: "Foraging"
We are excited to announce that the great Appalachian tradition of foraging will inspire on-trend fashions at The West Virginia Sustainable Fashion Show, which will take place at the Lewis Theater in Lewisburg on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Foraging in West Virginia has deep roots intertwined with the state’s history and culture. For generations, West Virginians have relied on the great Appalachian forests for sustenance, gathering wild plants, mushrooms, and berries as a way of life.​
While foraging evokes images of gathering food in nature, it has new meaning in fashion. Rejecting fast fashion, foraging in fashion seeks out unique and sustainable materials for clothing and accessories:
Source traditional sustainable processes and materials:
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Organic, natural, and biodegradable materials
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Natural dyes
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Traditional fiber processes such as embellishment and zero-waste design
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Materials found in nature​​
Find and use discarded, secondhand, or salvage materials:
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Visit thrift stores and yard sales for inexpensive fabrics.
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Reimagine something that has been hanging in your closet waiting for inspiration.
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Forage for fashion materials in industrial settings:
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Cardboard and plastic from shipping
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Cordage or wires
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Browse recycling centers
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Discarded printed packaging on bags
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We welcome team entries. Here are some ideas to spark your creative work;
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Trade garments with friends.
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Style new looks with discards from thrift stores and yard sales.
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Show variations of style using the same basic garments.
Don’t let our suggestions limit your creativity. Mentoring is available to help your team get started or to assist with finding or working with materials.​​​​
On the left, This sustainable linen ensemble from Charlie Darwin Textiles is made from OEKO-TEX certified linen. The look illustrates sustainable materials and processes ... pre-softened by wind and-dyed with pigments from plants. The extra pocket is also made of 100% plant-based materials, and speaks to the readiness of the wearer to forage, having a pocket and full mobility of the arms.
On the right, this Mother Nature inspired outfit put created by Meg Squier includes repurposed items from her closet, hand-dyed pieces, and assemblages found in nature.
You could build a look with finds from a yard sale or thrift store. Our 2023 show winner was this upcycled look from Deva Wagner, who added embellishments and new styling to this thrifted denim jacket. Another successful 2023 entry shown on the right was this stylish denim remake from Kay Andrada.
Erica Hardy, formerly of High Country Gallery, substituted newsprint for fabric when making this classic dress shape. In addition to creating “fabric”, unconventional materials can be used as a surface embellishment or an accessory like these macaroni bracelets.
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Get involved! Enter as a contestant. | Sponsor the show. | Buy tickets.
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