Flash trash fashion challenge

Young people have been inspired to take up the challenge of re-using waste. Photo/supplied

Who says trash isn't flash? Sustainable Backyards is encouraging locals to turn their waste into wearable fashion with its Sustainable Art Challenge and entries need to be in soon.

Young people in particular have been inspired by the concept with 100 entries in the mix so far, and 12 schools entering their students.

There are four categories in the competitions: Up-Cycling Junk, Trash to Fash, short films and photography. The goal is to divert waste from landfill by up-cycling them and making pieces of art from them, says Sarah Errico from Sustainable Backyards.

"Last year's Sustainable Art Challenge was a great success, with five secondary and intermediate schools from the Western Bay of Plenty and Tauranga."

"The highlight of the night was a Trash to Fashion show with 50 stunning re-cycled and re-designed garments," she said.

"This year, we really want the artists to up-cycle things that should go to the bin. We want to raise awareness about waste minimisation and up-cycling is a great way to divert waste from the landfill."

"The key objective is to promote awareness of environmental issues through the medium of art, and participants do this by learning about the consequences of wasted materials going to the landfill, using innovation to come up with way to reduce environmental impacts, and learning to express themselves through art," she says.

The challenge will culminate in a big awards night at Baycourt on the 1st July at 6pm, with a live fashion show, screening of films and auction of the up-cycled junk and photography entries. The winners will see their artwork exhibited in the Creative Tauranga gallery in July.