Participate in the Upcycled Fashion Show

Sign up for the first Upcycled Fashion Show in Wolfeboro hosted by Makers Mill in collaboration with the Governor Wentworth Arts Council (GWAC). Individuals and groups of all ages are invited to participate and have some fun over the winter months! It is free to participate AND participants will have free access to a series of workshops offered by textiles and maker experts.(see below)

The Upcycled Fashion Show will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 7-9pm at Makers Mill, 23 Bay St. Wolfeboro, and everyone is warmly invited to attend.

The event is designed to celebrate ingenuity, environmental awareness, and community spirit. Upcycling techniques have been with us for eons. Born either from necessity, or in a spark of individuality, or as a nod to sustainability, upcycling takes worn or used materials, clothes, or objects, and transforms the old into something new, and typically, more valuable.

Those who are excited to design something for the fashion show can register online HERE. Registration in the fashion show is limited and will be accepted on a first come first serve basis, so it is recommended to register as early as possible. Registration will be open until March 2022 or until fully subscribed.

Participating individuals and teams will be invited to speak about their designs during the fashion show and must find or be their own catwalk model for the event. The wearable designs are required to incorporate at least 75% recycled, reused, or repurposed materials.

To learn more details on how to participate, two online informational meetings will be held on Zoom.

The first one will be on Thursday, December 2 from 7-8 pm, hosted by Liz Helfer, GWAC President, and Sara Reineman and Carol Holyoake, board members from Makers Mill. The second Zoom is scheduled for Thursday, December 9 from noon to 1 pm, hosted by Josh Arnold, Makers Mill Executive Director, and Jeanne Flanagan, Makers Mill Fiber Arts Shop Leader. Both sessions allow time for questions. Sign up for one of the Zoom meetings HERE.

Workshops: Prior to The Upcycled Fashion Show, a series of artist-led workshops will be hosted by Makers Mill and the Arts Council. These workshops are oriented  to support fashion show participants with the design of their entry. All workshops are free to registered fashion show participants. The workshops are also open to the general public at a cost of $10 for GWAC members, and $15 for non-members. All materials and equipment will be provided, and participants are also encouraged to bring along any materials they’d like to include in their final design.

The workshop locations are not available at this time, however save-the-date for:

1. What Is Upcycling? A dive into repurposed materials for fashion.  10AM-1PM on Saturday, January 8, 2022.

2. Intro to Sewing. A lesson in hand and machine sewing techniques.  10AM-1PM on Saturday, January 22, 2022.

3. Creating Shape & Structure: A look at structural undergarments. 10AM-1PM on Saturday, February 5, 2022.

4. Attachments 101. A look at fasteners and adhesives. 10AM-1PM on Saturday, February 12, 2022.

Register for the workshops HERE.

The Upcycled Fashion Show event on April 23, 2022 will be ticketed at $3 for Makers Mill and GWAC members, $5 for non-members before the event, and $7 at the door for all. Participating designers and design teams will each receive two free tickets to give to friends or family for the event. Ticket sales will be made available online at www.makersmill.org early in the new year.  If pandemic restrictions still apply, the event will be held in accordance with all federal, state, and town COVID-19 requirements.

If you would like to get involved or have any questions, contact Liz Helfer at info@GovernorWentworthArtsCouncil.org.

The registration form to participate in the Upcycled Fashion Show is found HERE.