This time last year, Britney Westervelt was using floor tape and Mod Podge to fashion old architectural plans into dresses for her daughters to wear in the 2012 Trashion-Fashion show.

“We looked around for something we had a lot of and didn’t want to just throw in the garbage,” she recalls.

With her husband a building contractor, old building plans seemed “a perfect fit.” Britney’s finely pleated garments and lampshade bonnets, modeled by daughters Gwendalynn and Gloryanna, captured the Trashion-Fashion spirit to a tee.

Trashion – the art of creating a fabulous garment, accessory, or wearable sculpture from recycled or repurposed materials – promotes the value of recycling in an entertaining way.  Last year’s event, a first on Lopez, lured some twenty-seven “Trashionistas” onto the Lopez Center runway. Among the over-the-top creations: Pamela Maresten’s prize-winning gown and matching headdress made of brown paper packing material and Jerry-the-vet’s scrubs sewn from Purina cat food bags. Audience members still talk about the energetic runway performance by the “Vital Signs,” a team from the Lopez Clinic wearing creatively accessorized party dresses sewn from paper bed sheets. As for the kinetic headgear sported by the “Free Wheeling” Anderson clan – well, you had to have been there.

This year’s Trashion event will take place at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, August 18 (the day after the Skate-Park exhibition) at Lopez Center. In keeping with the recycling theme, the hall will once again be decked out with extravagantly funky décor borrowed from the Take-It-Or-Leave-It. A wine and hors d’oeuvres reception will follow the show.

Tickets are available at Paper Scissors on the Rock, Lopez Bookshop, Blossom Grocery, and Southend General Store for a suggested donation of $15. All receipts benefit Solid Waste Alternatives Program, the nonprofit organization that supports the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District and responsible waste management on Lopez. SWAP organizers suggest getting tickets early, as there will be many visitors on the island that weekend.

Meanwhile, Britney Westervelt is pondering her daughters’ 2013 Trashion ensembles.

“Probably another paper-folding process and lots of leftover plastic garment bags,” she laughs, “…and lots of pouffing, again.”