Aspiring Eco-Fashion Designers (and Normal Creative Greenies) -- Why Not Enter This Year's Junk To Funk Competition?

At some point in every girl (or boy's) life, fantasizing about becoming a world-renowned fashion designer is as commonplace as sneaking spoonfuls of frosting straight out of the container when mom isn't looking. 

Maybe it's even a rite of passage...until you realize that you are just an itty bitty fish in the sea who ends up getting swallowed up by an 8 ton killer whale. Oh, the competition...the cut-throat sinister behavior that is demonstrated by others who share the same dream! Jeesh!!

Once you switch over to more sensible academic pursuits such as biology and computer programming, your days of designing flouncy bits and pieces might be tucked away on the back burner for an indefinite period of time, but they are never forgotten.

All of the frustrated, would-be fashion designers out there who never got their chance to shine will now have a proper shot at basking in the splendiferous glow of the catwalk with Elysium Events' 4th annual Junk to Funk Recycled Fashion Show Contest.

Slated for November 14, 2009 at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, the trashion extravaganza encourages its design participants to dig deep within their garbage pails to create the most original and outrageous pieces of wearable art that they can conceive.

With its submission deadline of October 14, 2009 looming large, perhaps these photos of previous entries or the actual footage of last year's event will supply ample food for thought -- plus, to sweeten the deal, there are cash prizes of up to $500 if you really get crazy with your trash bin .

Designed to promote awareness about the many innovative ways that our communities can rethink what they dispose of, they encourage designers not just to dig in the garbage but also refashion outdated garments, peruse junkyards, contact local businesses about utilizing their discarded scraps or use other resources such as:

Has anyone out there in happy internet land ever attended a Junk To Funk show, either as a guest, designer or model? If so, we'd love to hear about your experiences! 

Images courtesy of treehugger, flickr, planetpinkngreen, instablogsimages, thatjoliegirl