From rubbish to runway: Wearable Art Shines
Published on 09 November 2026
- Wearable Art winners announced at first stand-alone fashion showcase in Maryborough
- Winning outfits were made from chip packets, garbage bags and vintage clothing
- All outfits will be displayed at the Waste to Art Exhibition opening next Saturday
An 18th century dress made from garden waste bags, curtains and tents has taken out the top prize at the 2026 Waste to Art Wearable Art Showcase, held at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough over the weekend.
Fraser Coast Regional Council Resource Recovery spokesperson Cr Michelle Byrne said Elizabeth Elliott won the Over 18s division with her dress ‘Curtains of Court’ delivering a message about the dark side of over consumption, while Maya Udovisi took out the Under 18s with her creation ‘A Mess’ made from chip packets, poppers and plastic bags.
“From Zooper Dooper wrappers to plastic bottles and fabric scraps, everyday rubbish has been transformed into runway fashion, with designers drawing inspiration from medieval knights, Victorian fashion and environmental issues in an incredible display of local creativity,” she said.
“This year we gave Wearable Art its own runway event, allowing more time for designers to share their creations and the stories behind them.
“These garments are more than just fashion pieces, with powerful messages about environmental issues such as acid rain, single-use waste and even imagining life on another planet after Earth becomes uninhabitable.”
Cr Byrne said it’s a fun way to highlight the growing problem of textile waste and encourage people to think twice before throwing things away.
“Textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams, with more than 200,000 tonnes of clothing sent to landfill in Australia each year,” she said.
“Winners received Buy Local Gift Cards and tickets to the 2027 Australian Wearable Art Festival on the Sunshine Coast.”
The Wearable Winners were:
Arts spokesperson Cr Sara Souvlis said all 26 garments would be displayed at the main Waste to Art exhibition opening at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough next Saturday night (14 November) from 4pm to 7pm.
“Now in its ninth year, Waste to Art challenges residents to turn everyday rubbish into something creative while encouraging us to rethink waste,” she said.
“We’ve received some impressive entries this year, including works made from 11,000 plastic bottle caps, wooden offcuts and recycled match sticks to create a scouts camp.
“The creativity and thought behind these artworks are always impressive, and we are excited to see what our community has created this year.
“In total, there’s $5,000 in Buy Local Gift Cards up for grabs across the competition, and visitors can also vote for their favourite artwork in the People’s Choice Award from 14 November.”
Waste to Art is supported by the Australian Wearable Art Festival, Hyne Timber, Cleanaway, the Reuse & Recycle Group and Nugrow.
Residents and visitors can view the creative art works until 2 January 2027.