Rylan N.

Rylan N.
7th grade, Summit Middle School
Mesh onion bags, kale twist ties

Leela N.

Leela N
7th grade, Casey Middle School
Carpet underlay, tinsel

Grace A

Grace A.
7th grade, Southern Hills Middle School
Hot tub covers, carpet underlay

Isabel I

Izzy I.
6th grade, Manhattan Middle School
Construction lumber cover, bath loofah, pictures, CDs, baby wipes

Coulter C

Coulter C.
7th grade, Summit Middle School
Insulated bubble wrap bags, plastic flowers

Tatum R

Tatum R.
9th grade, Boulder High School
Outdoor bike and couch cover, flooring insulation, clear plastic

Jackie O

Jackie O.
7th grade, Centennial Middle School
Trampoline net, shower curtain, weed barrier, billboard sheets

Emma T

Emma T.
6th grade, Sacred Heart of Jesus Middle School
Grain bags, landscape plastic, plastic fishing line, hospital “call beads”

Amaya V

Amaya V.
7th grade, Manhattan Middle School
Shower curtain, CDs, silver bubble wrap

Tyler J

Tyler J.
7th grade, Centennial Middle School
Bike tubes, Amazon packaging, straws, yoga balls

Sloane M

Bones M.
7th grade, Summit Middle School
Plastic packaging, Common Threads price tags

Sophie J.

Sophie J.
7th grade, Nevin Platt Middle School
Ipsy bags, bike tubes, blue plastic packaging

kinley k

Kinley K.
7th grade, Casey Middle School
Plastic sheeting and sheet bags, candy wrappers, mylar

Maggie M

Maggie M.
7th grade, Casey Middle School
Dog food bags, mesh produce bags, shower curtain, cable wires

Sloane H

Sloane H.
6th grade, Southern Hills Middle School
Foamy packaging sheets, FedEx bags, plastic flowers

Sage R

Sage R.
6th grade, Casey Middle School
Banner, pool floaty, chocolate wrappers

Ara D

Ara D.
10th grade, home school
Tent, Christmas ornaments

Riley K

Riley K.
9th grade, Boulder High School
Produce netting, surgery blanket

Claire R.

Claire R.
7th grade, Platte Choice Middle School
Candy wrappers, frozen food bags, weed barrier

Olivia B

Olivia B.
11th grade, Boulder High School
Shower Curtain, silver food packaging, animal feed bags, tinsel

Sophie S

Sophie S.
10th grade, Fairview High School
Chicken feed bags, chocolate wrappers

Addison E

Addison E.
8th grade, Sacred Heart of Jesus Middle School
Toothpaste tubes, coffee bags, packaging straps, trampoline

Malia C

Malia C.
8th grade, Casey Middle School
Chocolate truffle cups, stuffed animals

Claudia H

Claudia H.
9th grade, Fairview High School
Broken umbrellas, plastic garbage bags

Zora E

Zora E.
8th grade, Friends Middle School
Sails

Hattie W

Hattie W.
8th grade, Centennial Middle School
Braces rubber band packaging, ice cream cartons

Jude A

JJ A. with model Adley
8th grade, Centennial Middle School
Animal feed bags

Riley L

Riley L.
9th grade, Peak to Peak High School
Tarp, broken umbrella, seafood bib, pool floaty

Lydia S

Lydia S.
9th grade, Fairview High School
Bike tubes, ski race clappers, bubble wrap, snack bags, Amazon envelopes

Elizabeth M

Elizabeth M.
8th grade, Boulder Country Day School
Hospital coflex bandages and gauze

Ava C

Ava C.
8th grade, Casey Middle School
Furniture packaging, shotgun shells, straws

Sophia L

Sophia L.
9th grade, Boulder High School
Plastic folders, packaging materials,Christmas lights

summer

Summer P.
9th Grade, Fairview High School
Dog food bags, shower curtain, 6-pack rings, plastic straws

Zoe M

Zoe M.
8th grade, Casey Middle School
Records, injection caps, shower curtain, online shopping packaging

Keara F

Keara F.
11th grade, Boulder High School
Animal feed bags, hay bale twine, metallic wrapping paper

Tess K

Tess K.
11th grade, Boulder High School
Chip bags, produce netting

Lizzy C

Lizzy C.
10th grade, New Vista High School
Coffee bags

Trash the Runway® aims to propel young people toward environmental and social responsibility and to inspire their confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills for the benefit of the greater good. This hands-on workshop and design competition, run by the Creative Lab at Common Threads in Boulder, is now in its 12th year. The process challenges middle and high school students to examine the social, environmental and ecological issues of consumer culture by upcycling and repurposing materials that would otherwise end up in local landfills.

Learn more

Consider This...

  • The fashion industry is the fourth most polluting industry in the world and 20% of industrial water pollution worldwide comes from treating and dying textiles.
  • Fabrics made from petroleum products, like acrylic, polyester or spandex, release greenhouse gases during the production process and take up to 1,000 years to break down in a landfill.
  • Textile production is water intensive. Cotton is the most common natural fiber used to make clothing. It takes 700 gallons of water to create enough cotton for one t-shirt.
  • Each year, the average American discards over 80 pounds of textiles and clothing into the landfill.
  • Clothing can be reused, repurposed or recycled. Extending the life of a garment diminishes its environmental impact. 

Learn more...

To learn about how you can shop ethically and locally, explore the unCover Handbook created by CU Alumna Ana Bogusky.

Check it out!

About Common Threads and The Creative Lab

Founded in 2007 by Libby Alexander, Common Threads is a unique fashion marketplace where people come together to create, collect, and consign. The Creative Lab in Boulder offers a range of classes, from sewing basics and summer camps to the wildly popular Trash the Runway™ fashion show and competition.

Images by Dylan Crossley Photography