Austin Designer Megan Pinto Wins 2019 Trash Makeover Challenge

AUSTIN, Texas - Sept. 15, 2019 - PRLog -- The 9^th Annual Trash Makeover Challenge showcased fifteen different fashions, created by teams of 36 creatives, designers and artists. Models wearing the fashions walked the runway in front of a SRO crowd at the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs Mansion, seeking to win the prize of $1200.  The theme this year was Sheroes and Heroes,

"Elektra," a design by Megan Pinto constructed of bubble wrap, Yoga mat, chicken wire, Mattel car toy play mat and outdoor tarp, took first place this year. Because Pinto entered more than one design, she actually took home $1600 as prize. The People's Choice Award went to last year's winner, Veronica Vivanco, who created a "Florence Nightingale" garment, fashioned from Coca Cola bottles and caps, thread, a desk lamp, vinyl sign and painting.

All garments in the Challenge were required to be constructed from 90% recycled materials. Other entries, including a Bob Mackie-inspired Barbie, Poison Ivy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a towering Abraham Lincoln, Native American Ancestor, Wasp, Spiderman, Grecian Goddess Medea and Wonder Woman, incorporated Copenhagen lids, shells, industrial vacuum tubing, plastic cores from receipt paper rolls, cardboard boxes, Coke bottle caps, chicken wire, old CDs, H-E-B bags, duct tape, yogurt & pudding cup lids, telephone & computer cables, insulated foil, coffee bean bags, bird netting, bubble wrap, pallet banding and straws.

The live auction saw Former State Senator Wendy Davis, who also served as a judge of the Challenge, in a hot contest for a guitar signed by Willie Nelson, Patty Griffin, Bobby Nelson, Jack Ingram, Nathaniel Rateliff, Steve Earle and many other famous local musicians. She drove the price up to $2500, but ultimately lost out to another bidder.

The Trash Makeover Challenge is an annual fundraiser for the Texas Campaign for the Environment. Major sponsors include Salt Lick; Arts + Labor; Core Design; Prosperity Bank; Texas Disposal Systems; Peggy and Matt Winkler, Liquid Environmental Solutions; H.E.B.; Hon. Brigid Shea and John Umphress; Brian Rodgers; Julia Marsden; Frederick, Perales, Allmon & Rockwell; and Perry and Sheridan Lorenz, Texas Beer Company, and Tito's Vodka.

For more information and photos go to the website: http://trashmakeover.com.