What is Trashion?

Trashion is a word which is used to refer to objects and garments produced from discarded, unwanted, and leftover items. Trashion encompasses everything from home décor to garments, and public interest in trashion started exploding in the late 1990s, when being environmentally ethical while staying chic started to come into style. Trashion is considered to be a form of upcycling, which refers to repurposing things for new uses, rather than simply getting rid of unwanted objects.

This word is a portmanteau of “trash” and “fashion,” and it is meant to imply that things made from recycled objects don't need to be lacking in style. While anyone can browse a vintage or thrift store, someone interested in trashion might also delve into free boxes, piles of discards destined for the dump, and other more unconventional sources for potential artistic inspiration.

Trashion jewelry often uses discarded and waste metals, both from within the jewelry industry and outside of it, and artists may use things like bottle caps, discarded containers, and so forth to make their jewelry more visually interesting and to remind consumers of the jewelry's origins. Trashion clothing often involves custom sewing, integrating several sources of discarded textile materials in designs which can vary widely, from sleek and hip to more casual and laid-back.

Trashion design can also encompass a wide variety of home goods, from tables to vases. People believe that by re-using unwanted items, they are both benefiting the environment and the items themselves, by giving such items a new purpose in life. Trashion can also be an interesting exploration for artists, who push themselves to think about things in new ways, and a talented trashion designer can find something useful where others only see garbage, sometimes literally.

One of the great things about trashion is that it is accessible to anyone who is feeling creative and resourceful, unlike traditional fashion, which tends to be costly and elitist. Trashion is also unique; someone who wears a trashion gown to a function, for example, can be confident that no one else will be wearing the same outfit. The unique flavor of trashion is also its appeal, as each piece is intrinsically distinct and quirky.