DiscarDisco, The WasteShed’s annual Trash Fashion Show & Garbage Couture Extravaganza, is just weeks away! Our illustrious judges will receive contestant’s video submissions of their work in the next few days, and will begin the difficult work of selecting the top 20 contestants based on creativity, design and construction.
These fierce and fabulous 20 will be competing April 13th on the runway at the Chicago Athletic Association for 3 illustrious prizes, and helping raise money for The WasteShed’s creative and sustainable mission! This year’s theme is PatchWERK; help them sew up a victory by donating here:
Contestants have used all their talent and ingenuity to transform our upcycled fabric, notions and bits into wearable works of art. This will be a difficult choice, but we’ve selected a well seasoned panel of judges for their work in fashion, design and sustainability.
Meet our Judges!
Sky Cubacub (They/Them/Xey/Xem/Xyr)
Founder/Designer, Rebirth Garments
J Frausto
(they/them he/him)
Thrifter, Designer, Stylist
@the.thrifted.gay
Sky Cubacub is a non-binary disabled Filipinx neuroqueer from Chicago, IL. They are the creator of Rebirth Garments, a line of wearables for trans, queer and disabled people of all sizes and ages, which started in 2014. Sky is the editor of the Radical Visibility Zine, and a founding member of Radical Visibility Collective, which creates fashion performances with audio descriptive songs. Xey started a free online queercrip DIY fashion program and incubator with the Chicago Public Library called Radical Fit, which has a yearly celebration at Ping Tom Park called Queer Radical Fair. They are in the process of creating an online kids show about joyful disability access called “Sky and The Rebirth Warriors”.
J Frausto is a Mexican/Puerto Rican Chicago native who identifies as queer. They found their style through their gender expression that led to being an androgynous thrift stylist. After styling people who identified as queer they realized there is a need to bridge the gap to make clothes gender affirming.
Lauren Lein (she/her)
Apparel Industry Board President
EndangerUS LLC.
Lauren Lein is a 25 year Chicago Fashion veteran, four-term president of the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. and a proud member of The Service Club of Chicago. Lauren’s adult children, Andreah and Drew, serve as an inspiration for many of her favorite design pieces.
EndangerUS - Lauren’s LLC- designs and/or produces their clothing with seamers and contractors across the city and beyond, practicing safe methods, sustainability, fair wages, and excellent working conditions. LLLTD uses primarily eco-friendly and natural fabrics — and practices re-purposing with all garments, masks, and samples produced.
Melissa Carter
(she/her)
Owner Kameo Vintage
I Am The Carter Projekt
Melissa Carter is the CEO and Creative Director of Kameo Vintage, which has a showroom, boutique, and archive in Winnetka, IL. Kameo Vintage is a black-owned, preloved styling brand specializing in Casual Couture looks.They curate and reimagine clothing + accessories sourced from around the world, prioritizing quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
Melissa is inspired by her life in New York and her international travels, and has hosted Kameo-style lounges in Chicago, New York, and Paris. In 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter Movement, she decided to inspire more than preloved style, creating a capsule collection of bygone pieces stamped with her colorful Afro-woman logo.
Blair Goldman (she/her)
Fashion Designer & Sewing Teacher
Blair Goldman is a lifelong trashionista and fashion designer. She is a former DiscarDisco champion and has served on the DiscarDisco planning committee. Blair has over 15 years of sewing experience and has dressed the likes of celebrities Lizzo, Dodie, and Dorian Electra. Currently, Blair teaches sewing and fashion classes at Hovet Fashion Studio and Elena Victoria Fine Arts. She believes buttered noodles with a little bit of cheese is the basis of her success.
Iyomi Ho Ken
(she/her)
Fashion Designer
CFDA Scholar
Iyomi Ho Ken is a fashion based artist, originally from Orlando, Florida, with a focus on sculptural bridal and special occasion wear.
Iyomi graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2022, where she was awarded scholarships from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
She currently works as a designer for “House of Aama” & continues her own practice, working on a 16 look collection to debut later this year. Her work stems from experiences of the self, and familial attachments to her Chinese-Jamaican heritage.
Meet our judges live at our show! Full event details are at thewasteshed.com/discardisco