Tickets on Sale for 8th Annual Color Me Goodwill Fashion Show

Tickets are now on sale for the 8th Annual Color Me Goodwill fashion show, presented by Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, taking place on Friday, April 19, at The Orange Peel in Asheville. The show features runway collections produced by seven area design teams using repurposed items found at Goodwill stores.

Each Color Me Goodwill design team is given $200 to shop for materials at local Goodwill stores, which they deconstruct and remake to create a five-piece collection based on a selected color. Each collection features a model who has participated in Goodwill employment programs and services. Designers compete for a first-place prize of $1,000, awarded by a panel of expert judges, and an audience choice prize of $500.

“We often say that Color Me Goodwill celebrates the power of second chances,” said Lance Crawford, Goodwill’s director of workforce development in Asheville. “The stunning runway collections show that it’s possible to repurpose secondhand items into high fashion. At the same time, the Goodwill program participants who model in the show share their powerful, inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles and transforming their lives.”

This year, Color Me Goodwill features a mix of returning design teams and those who are competing for the first time. The 8th Annual Color Me Goodwill show and their selected colors are:

House of Sconiers – BLUE
Led by the visionary designer Gee Gee, the House of Sconiers is an avant-garde atelier specializing in couture gowns. A conscious seamstress since her youth, Gee Gee’s journey began alongside her mother, and she is entirely self-taught. Her creations are a harmonious blend of beauty, class, elegant style, and a touch of sartorial ingenuity. Ruffles, draping, and sequins define her signature aesthetic, transforming each gown into a masterpiece. Follow Gee Gee’s artistic evolution on Instagram: @houseofsconiers.

MPP McFabricators – PURPLE
MPP McFabricators is a two-person team, Sandy McDaniel and Kayren McKnight, who met about 10 years ago while working on a production of Tartuffe for Montford Park Players. They continue to work together creating for Montford and other local theatres. Sandy is a hair stylist who has found her happy place in creating hair and costumes for local theater, and Karyn is enjoying her first year of retirement from teaching. Sandy’s work appeared in Montford productions of The Three Musketeers, Peter Pan and James and the Giant Peach. Recently Kayren worked with Ben & Angela at Sublime Theater, and upcoming productions at Asheville School at HART Theatre in Waynesville.

Mae Reilly Mueller – RED
Mae Reilly Mueller returns to Color Me Goodwill for the second year after presenting the Green Collection in 2023. With a background in costuming, she is inspired by the theatrics of design, such as silhouette, texture, and intricate detail. Mae Reilly is largely self-taught, and for several years has created clothing from repurposed materials for herself and friends, as well as building costumes for her high school’s theatre productions.

Neil Rostick – GREEN
Neil Rostick is an 11th grade student at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy who began sewing in local 4-H classes. Since then, he has been experimenting with design and pattern making to create interesting and one-of-a-kind garments, as well as founding a nonprofit thrift store through Tryon Congregational Church. In addition to using bright colors and incorporating bold pattern mixing, Neil is very interested in sustainability and eco-friendly design.

Sheila Thibodeaux – PINK
Sheila Thibodeaux is a lifelong costume designer who has been a fixture in the local fashion community since moving to Asheville in 2005. She has participated in 15 professional runway shows, including ACT Costume Drama, Planned Parenthood Condom Couture, Green Works “Trashion”, and Faerie Arts Festival. Sheila was part of the Sugar Britches team that won the Audience Choice Award at Color Me Goodwill in 2022, and assisted with Rosanne Capone’s Audience Choice Award-winning collection last year.

Sybil Todd – ORANGE
Sybil Todd competed in last year’s Color Me Goodwill, winning first place for her Blue Collection. Sybil began designing for the theatre, then established a name for herself in cosplay designs and has since transitioned to fashion design. She is heavily inspired by literature, history, and nature. Her signature is creating fantasy-inspired clothing that is reminiscent of days gone by. Sybil currently works with Vibe Wed Asheville to create unique designs for couples planning an off-the-beaten path wedding. She is excited to showcase her work and bring her unique style to the runway.

Joslyn Werner – BROWN
Joslyn Werner is a multi-media artist with a background in sculpture, ceramics, textiles and fiber arts. She graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in New Mexico. She participated in the Santa Fe Recycle Fashion shows in 2017 and 2018, and in the ACT Costume Fashion Drama shows in 2020 and 2021, and is participating in Color Me Goodwill for the first time.. Innovation and sustainability are her inspiration.

Tickets for Color Me Goodwill are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through The Orange Peel box office at https://bit.ly/47xEcS2. All participants and attendees must follow current local and venue-specific safety guidelines.

For more information, visit www.colormegoodwill.org.