Kootenai Environmental Alliance holds annual “trashion” show

The tenth annual Junk2funk eco-friendly fashion show put together by the Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA) took place on Saturday evening in the Coeur d’Alene Eagles Lodge showroom.

Mike Hamm, the “Recycled Rocket Man” shows off his costume made out of cupcake toppers, astronaut food packaging, a worn tablecloth, and a child’s science project. Photo by Catrina Martinson.

Local artists got the chance to showcase their abilities by transforming trash, recyclables, and other discarded items into fabulous and wildly-wacky articles of clothing.

Models for the artists’ creations and even some artists themselves strutted down the runway in their gnarly garb and danced to music while the crowd went wild. Mike Hamm, displaying his wife Natasha Hamm’s piece titled “Recycled Rocket Man” even cracked open a cold one onstage and poured a few drinks for some lucky audience members.

“Once they get out there in those outfits, they own the stage. It’s truly a mindblower,” Junk2funk team member Rebecca Hurlen-Patano said about the models for the event.

Kathy McClure modeling Deb Loy’s creation “Painter’s Palette” made out of old paint canvases. Photo by Catrina Martinson.

All of the proceeds gathered from the event go to the KEA to assist in their many projects to provide a healthy living environment to the community, and on Saturday night they earned hundreds of dollars for their cause from ticket sales, sponsors, and donations.

“It’s such a thrilling experience to participate in every year, and it’s so fun to see the outfits people make,” KEA staff member Jill McFarlane said.

Artists Jeni Hegsted and Keri Stark dance down the runway in their outfits made from discarded papers and posters, office supplies and salvaged fliers from the floor at last year’s Junk2Funk event. Photo by Catrina Martinson.

Aside from being a source of support and revenue for a good cause such as the KEA, the Junk2Funk event is an exciting and perhaps even challenging outlet for local artists or anyone that would like to try their hand at creating some “trashionable” attire to express themselves and their creativity, while giving a second life to items which would’ve otherwise been forgotten about in the back of a closet while gathering dust, or simply left out on the curb for the garbage truck to toe away.