By Rich Larson
For many of the designers participating in the Community Action Center’s Runway Revival, the annual fundraiser is about much more than creating an eye-catching outfit from unexpected materials. It is an opportunity to support an organization they believe is essential to the Northfield community while challenging themselves to see everyday objects in an entirely new way.
The fashion show returns Aug. 13 at The Grand Event Center, where designers will showcase wearable art created from recycled and upcycled materials. Proceeds from the event support the Community Action Center’s work providing food, housing, clothing and other vital services to area residents.
Returning designer Sarah Aylward said she was first drawn to Runway Revival by its creativity, attending the event for several years before deciding to submit her own designs. After creating a dress from coffee bean burlap sacks last year, she wanted to take on a completely different challenge in 2026.
This year’s design is built from aluminum cans collected through sales of flavored “dirty sodas” at her coffee shop. After carefully cutting apart hundreds of cans, she transformed them into overlapping scales that cover a dress inspired by the event’s “Wild” theme. The project ties together environmental themes, artistic expression and a product that has become popular with her customers, while demonstrating how materials destined for the recycling bin can be turned into wearable art.
Natalie Draper, who is participating for the third time, approached the theme from a different direction. Inspired by the film Wild at Heart, she repurposed a vintage tapestry into a distinctive jacket, giving new life to a textile that otherwise may have been discarded. For Draper, the event encourages people to rethink what they throw away and recognize the value of well-made items that can be repaired, repurposed and worn again in new forms.
This year’s Runway Revival will feature 22 adult designers and, for the first time, a youth showcase highlighting the work of nine designers under age 16. Organizers have also added video introductions allowing artists to explain the inspiration behind their creations. Tickets are available through the Community Action Center’s website, and displays of several featured designs can already be seen at businesses throughout Northfield, offering a preview of one of the community’s most creative annual fundraisers.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
