My First Ever Kids Trashion Show at Red Balloon Cafe in Cincinnati!

Sep 4

I hosted a kids trashion show at Red Balloon Cafe in Cincinnati and it was one of the most fun events I've ever put together. Here's how it went down.

I know I’m a photographer and most photographers don’t usually put on events that have NOTHING to do with photography. BUT I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… That is not how I roll.

I freaking love doing things that are silly, bring out creativity in the world and allow people to have fun. So one day when I had the idea to have a Kids Trashion show, I knew I had to make that idea come to life!

If you have no idea what a Trashion show is let me help you out. Think Fashion show but all the clothing is made from recycled goods and all put together by an easy-on-the-environment binding agent.

Way back in my corporate career (ew), I was in one of these myself. I made my outfit out of paper tissue and bags. It was insanely puffy and hard to walk in but I strutted my stuff in that like I was Lizzo on the VMA’s. In fact, I actually came out to the song Bangarang by Skrillex, perhaps a little too much for the Macy’s call center but it was amazing to me.

I also did my hair in this big puff/hawk fashion, strapped on my tallest heels- that I totally almost fell in- and loved every second of my short lived runway time.

Cincinnati photographer Jess Summers wearing a colorful recycled tissue paper dress at her corporate trashion show

This event though was for kids ages 3-11. I asked them all to create a outfit made out of recycled materials just like I did in mine and to get as creative with it as humanly possible.

Red Balloon Cafe partnered with me for this event and we used one of their class rooms for the kids to use as their runway. We even had some amazing prizes for them to win:

1st place:
Giftcard to Say Yes To Jess for a Dream Session value-$350
Giftcard to Picture This Clothing Value- $50 - Side note Check them out!! One of my favorite companies!
And an awesome Goodie Bag!

2nd place:
GiftCard to Say Yes To Jess for a photo session-$250
Giftcard to Target- $20
And an awesome Goodie Bag!

3rd place:
GiftCard to Say Yes To Jess for a photo session-$150
Giftcard to Target- $10
And an awesome Goodie Bag!

When it was finally time for the Trashion show, everyone got dressed and let me tell you these kids did not disappoint. Their outfits were amazing, and put my masterpiece above to shame. We even had a little girl who dressed her baby sister up to match her in the show.

Group of kids posing in their handmade recycled outfits at the Say Yes to Jess trashion show at Red Balloon Cafe in Cincinnati

Kids receiving awards on the trashion show runway at Red Balloon Cafe

Kids waving and clapping on the trashion show runway with silver tinsel backdrop

Girl with blue braids wearing a creative recycled cardboard and tissue paper outfit with a tall headpiece at the Cincinnati trashion show

Close up of girl smiling and showing off her recycled art headpiece made from cardboard tubes and tissue paper

Girl in pink modeling her full recycled materials outfit with cardboard tube headpiece and bubbles on the runway at Say Yes to Jess trashion show

Young girl posing on the runway in a dress made from recycled black trash bags with a silver bow headpiece

Girl in recycled trash bag dress walking the runway with tinsel streamers at the kids trashion show in Cincinnati

Girl in recycled trash bag dress surrounded by bubbles on the trashion show runway at Red Balloon Cafe

Girl with braids waving on the runway wearing a recycled paper and tissue paper outfit with creative headpiece at the Cincinnati trashion show

Girl in recycled materials outfit walking the runway with bubbles at Say Yes to Jess kids trashion show

Girl in recycled materials outfit on the runway with bubbles at the Red Balloon Cafe trashion show

Jess Summers posing with a young boy in matching recycled outfits at the kids trashion show in Cincinnati

Boy in recycled trash bag outfit holding a basketball walking the trashion show runway

Boy in recycled trash bag outfit with basketball surrounded by bubbles on the runway at Red Balloon Cafe trashion show

Two sisters in handmade recycled outfits holding hands on the runway with baby in a stroller at the Cincinnati trashion show

Baby in a recycled materials outfit sitting in a stroller surrounded by bubbles at the Say Yes to Jess kids trashion show

Girl in colorful handmade recycled dress smiling on the runway with bubbles at the kids trashion show at Red Balloon Cafe in Cincinnati

This was such a blast and I'm already dreaming up the next one. If you want to stay in the loop on future events (and maybe get your kiddo on the runway next time), sign up for my email list (signup form below) or follow me on Instagram. And if you're looking for a Cincinnati photographer who does way more than just stand behind a camera, let's chat!

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