Coming in November 2022, The Annual Trash Fashion Show & Costume Contest returns to Santa Fe after a break due to Covid-19. The country’s largest and oldest recycled art market, Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival, is dedicated to showcasing art created from discarded materials, including the art of fashion and costume design.

All recycled fashions must be made of at least 75% recycled or reused materials that otherwise would be thrown away. (Of note: vintage clothing and clothes made out of trash bags are not accepted).

Rivaling the Paris and Milan runways, the Trash Fashion Show offers surprises, as well as inspiring designs from budding haute-couture designers.

If you’re local to Sante Fe, this exciting event includes an inspiring art market, adult and student juried art exhibits, and make and take art activities. Each year the group brings in over 100 artists from around New Mexico, but also includes artists from Colorado, New York, Arizona, and elsewhere, offering original pieces for sale in the Art Market.

All of the artwork at the market includes recycled elements, from vintage tin cans made into beautiful earrings to scrap metal sculptures. The artists’ work upcycles trash into novel forms of art, including fashion, showing creative ways to conserve resources, while making something beautiful.

The event attracts thousands of art lovers and eco-conscious holiday gift-givers. If you’re interested in attending the November event, find more information here.