Community Corner

Southington Business Owner Helping Turn Trash to Treasure

Evergreen Design Company owner Rachel DeCavage shows that candy wrappers, newspapers and other consumable waste products can be used instead of thrown in the garbage.

The following was submitted by Michele Fischer-Paul.

In honor of Earth Day, local business owner Rachel DeCavage partnered with yoga/dance instructor Amy Merli to coordinate the Second Annual Trashion Fashion Show held at Artspace in downtown Hartford on April 21.

This environmentally conscience community event featured a recycling-inspired fashion show set to live fusion music. After one year of planning, the event was well received with nearly 300 guests in attendance and a sponsorship by the XL Center.  All proceeds were donated to DeCavage’s non-profit organization Evergreen Design Company in Southington, as well as the Sustainable Farm School in Simsbury.

The Trashion Fashion Show began with a yoga asana demonstration by Downtown Yoga of Hartford, and proceeded with live drum and keyboard accompaniment for the fashion show. 

Using only consumer waste materials such as newspapers, plastic bags, paper goods, books, old clothing, soda cans, straws and mirrors, the garments were designed by students, professionals and novices from the Hartford and Litchfield counties and Boston, Mass. Nearly two-dozen vendors of repurposed, recycled, up-cycled, and vintage products made for terrific shopping.

There was a Sustainable Living table where volunteers talked to guests about composting and growing their own foods, and distributed free plant seedlings and "Seed Bombs" (fruit, vegetable, or flower seeds compressed in a nugget of manure and compost). 

The crowd was young and old, eclectic, artistic, and very supportive of the true meaning of the event: “Make Art Not Trash.”

Designers, models, dancers, hair stylists, makeup artists, and musicians all volunteered their time and services for the event. Many of the models were from the area, including Plantsville resident Julie Riccio.

DeCavage, of Southington, is the Executive Director of the non-profit organization Evergreen Design Company, and recently opened an eco-inspired boutique in Southington called Sugar Plum. Merli, of Harwinton, is a professional dancer with CONNetic Dance Company, a dance instructor at Ballet Theatre Company in West Hartford, a yoga instructor at Downtown Yoga and Becoming Balanced in Hartford, as well as a Thai Yoga Massage therapist and student at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

DeCavage’s eco-inspired boutique, Sugar Plum, will also be holding its Grand Opening Fiesta on Saturday May 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 98 Main St. in Southington.

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