Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Inc. recently hosted Project Goodwill, a fashion show, design competition and fundraiser gala supporting the mission of the nonprofit. The 2018 event raised $46,419 for the cause.
Aspiring designers from the community were tasked with designing wearable garments using $100 worth of unconventional materials from local Goodwill stores and presenting those looks in a runway show during the event. Over the years, participants have used materials including lampshades, album covers, tin-foil pans, air filters and more to complete their looks. While all fabric had to be from a Goodwill Fort Worth location, trimmings/notions could be purchased from another location. Materials used in the design were reimbursed by Goodwill up to $100. Contestants could use clothing as material, but completely rework it, for example taking the material from pants and turning it into a skirt.
The fashion show was judged by industry professionals including Joe Allen Brown, Professor of Theatre Arts at Texas Wesleyan University; Melina Mayfield-Williams, Assistant Buyer at Neiman Marcus; Kanani Mahelona, Design Consultant; and Debby Stein, Chief Improvement Officer at Riverside Arts District; and Celebrity fashion show judges were Anthony L. Williams, winner of Project Runway All Stars 2018 and Demetria Obilor, WFAA-TV Channel 8 traffic commentator.
Contestants competed for top honors in design materials and method, and runway presentation. First place went to Lizzie Jones (pictured above with model Sara Dela Cruz), who designed a dress made from a trampoline, embellished with broken CDs. Jones received a $750 cash price, a $75 gift certificate to Goodwill Fort Worth, a body form, $40 to a fabric store, a $25 Container Store gift card, a Singer sewing machine and a 16GB Samsung Tablet. Other finalists included second place, Kelse Clements who won a $500 cash prize and a $50 gift certificate to Goodwill Fort Worth, and third place, Blair Reyes, who won a $250 cash prize and $25 gift card to Goodwill Fort Worth. People’s Choice was awarded to Shen Xu.
Project Goodwill, sponsored by Service Waste, benefits the mission of Goodwill – to empower people with disabilities, disadvantages and other barriers to employment so they may achieve maximum independence. All proceeds go to the Moncrief-Ryan Scholarship Fund supporting initiatives focusing on providing jobs and job training for the homeless, at-risk youth, veterans, the disadvantaged and the disabled.
“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to local fashion design students and design enthusiasts,” said David Cox, President & CEO. “It is inspiring to watch these individuals take everyday clothing from our stores and repurpose them into a runway-ready look.”
*Photo courtesy of Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, Inc.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF FORT WORTH, INC.
Goodwill is more than a thrift store. The largest employer of people with disabilities in the world, Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust and friendships. Everyone deserves this chance.
Goodwill Fort Worth’s 23 retail locations provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support Goodwill’s mission – job training and career services for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities and other barriers to employment including lack of education or work experience and homelessness. For more information on Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, please visit www.goodwillfortworth.org.
