What started as a bold idea is now a growing tradition. The Upcycle Design Competition and Showcase returned this fall, bringing together artists, designers, and changemakers to turn waste into wonder and redefine what sustainability can look like in Savannah.
Images from our fall 2025 event
This isn’t your average fashion show
This fall, join us for an evening where sustainability meets style, and trash turns into treasure. The Upcycle Design Competition and Showcase invites artists, designers, and makers to rethink what waste looks like and reimagine it as fashion, function, or fine art.
We’re blending the drama of Project Runway with the mission of a zero-waste future. Think: upcycled fashion on a runway, real-time Q&As with the designers, interactive voting, and a gallery-style exhibit of creative reuse pieces that could reshape our city’s waste story.
Theme
This year’s competition challenges designers to transform waste from Savannah’s own material stream—like discarded upholstery, curtains, sails, and old uniforms—into original, wearable fashion. The goal: to spotlight creative solutions to our city’s waste problems through upcycled design.
Judging + Voting
Designers will present their look on the runway, and then speak briefly with our panel of judges during the show.
A panel of local sustainability leaders, designers, and artists will serve as official judges. But the crowd gets a say too—audience members can text in their favorites throughout the evening.
Prize
One winner will walk away with a $500 prize and bragging rights as Savannah’s upcycling star.
All competition designers will have the option to sell their creation the night of the event, with a portion of sales supporting Lite Foot Environmental Foundation.
Showcase
Don’t want to compete? Not into clothing design? The Showcase invites creatives of all kinds from sculptors, to furniture makers, visual artists, fiber artists, and more - to submit their upcycled creations.
These should solve a real problem or creatively respond to an issue related to waste or sustainability. Selected artists will display their work at the event, and may also be featured in prominent local businesses following the show.
Pieces may also be made available for sale during the event (with a portion of proceeds supporting our nonprofit).
“I never thought in a million years I would win this competition. It totally pushed me to create more.”
-Kieanie Lee Parker, 2023 Upcyling Competition Winner
Kieanie curates sustainable pieces at her vintage shop, Meaningful Boutique. Check it out today and find more of her upcyled collection at this year’s Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week.