EARTH DAY WEEKEND
April 19, 2026
Fashion Trashion
Witch Walk
THE CONCEPT
For Earth Day, we’re bringing back a beloved community fashion challenge — reimagined with movement, storytelling, and a little witchy magic.
Local designers are invited to transform rescued CozyPure fabric scraps into original, one-of-a-kind witch-inspired designs worn and performed by the OV Sea Hags, a local dance troupe known for joyful, expressive movement.
This is upcycled fashion meets performance art — not a static runway, but clothing that lives, moves, and dances.
THE MATERIALS
Designers will receive a curated bundle of rescued CozyPure textile scraps, which may (or may not) include:
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Organic cotton woven and knit fabrics
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Wool and/or cotton batting and/or quilting
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Natural fiber blends
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Irregular cuts, remnants, and slightly-flawed seconds
- May also include shipping items (straps, bags, etc)
These materials were once destined for waste.
Your challenge is to reimagine them into expressive, wearable design.
Embellishments, dyes, and sewing notions are allowed in moderation.
THE DESIGNER–WITCH COLLABORATION
Designers will be paired with an assigned “witch” model from the OV Sea Hags.
What this includes:
Designing for a real body and personality
At least one fitting with your assigned dancer
Considering comfort, durability, and movement
Seeing your work come alive through performance
THE DESIGN CHALLENGE
Create a witch-inspired ensemble that:
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Can be worn safely while dancing
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Highlights creative reuse of materials
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Reflects your personal design voice
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Feels theatrical, expressive, intentional
- Extra points for creating a witch hat
There are no strict aesthetic rules.
Elegant, dark, playful, earthy, dramatic, whimsical, avant-garde — all are welcome.
Material pick-up scheduled for February 22 so you’ll have two months to complete the design challenge before the runway.
This is about vision, ingenuity, and transformation.
THE EVENT EXPERIENCE
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Designs debut in a live Fashion Trashion Witch Walk
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Each look is introduced and credited
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Witches perform choreographed movement
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Audience engagement is encouraged
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Professional photography and video will capture the event
Your work will be:
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Seen in motion
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Shared on social platforms
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Remembered as part of a joyful community event
THE VIBE
Earth Day, without the lecture.
This is a celebration of the planet through creativity, reuse, and care not guilt or finger-wagging.
Fashion, without the frenzy.
Design that values craft over trends, made from what already exists. Slow, intentional, and thoughtful by nature.
Witches, without the gimmicks.
Witches have long been symbols of intuitive, earth-connected caretakers. Joyful, expressive, and unapologetically themselves.
Community, without the competition.
Collaborative, supportive, and welcoming. We create together, cheer each other on, and leave the cutthroat mindset at the door.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
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Fashion designers
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Costume designers
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Fiber and textile artists
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Upcycling creatives
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Emerging designers and students
- Home-based hobby sewing enthusiasts
Experience level matters less than imagination and commitment.
“The winner, Christy Frederick, a fashion design professor at Norfolk State University, said the contest served as her re-entry to the market.”
Excerpt from The Virginian-Pilot article published April 28, 2016.
Frederick’s design is shown above on the right.
A PROVEN SUCCESS
This is not an experiment.
In 2016, we hosted a Fashion Trashion design challenge inspired by Project Runway that took place at the Venue on 35th. The runway event, hosted at O’Connor’s Brewing Company in Norfolk the following day, was a major success and was featured on the front page of the Virginian-Pilot Daily Break section.
We’re building on that momentum — this time with:
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A defined Earth Day focus
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A performance-based reveal
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Strong sponsor support
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A built-in audience vote
- Community education
WHY PARTICIPATE
This challenge is ideal for designers who:
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Love experimental or unconventional fashion
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Want to see their designs worn and performed
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Care about sustainability and reuse
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Enjoy collaborative, community-driven projects
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Want meaningful exposure without a traditional runway or gallery
You’re not designing for a hanger. You’re designing for a dancing body and a shared story.
A PEEK AT 2016
Here’s a short video showing just a few of the designs that walked the runway for our FASHION TRASHION event ten years ago at O’Connor’s Brewing Company back in April 2016.
Photo credit:
Front page DAILY BREAK of the Virginian-Pilot
PRESENTED BY OV SEA HAGS IN COLLABORATION WITH VAFW
VA FASHION WEEK (VAFW)
Virginia is for lovers of style!
VA Fashion Week was formed in 2007 with the purpose of showcasing emerging designers and models from up and down the East Coast and to establish a world-class fashion event in Southeastern Virginia.
Ann Leister is the owner and director of Splash Model Management and has produced or co-produced muliple fashion shows. In addition, she has cast actors and models in regional and national commercials, TV shows, magazines and ad campaigns as well as placed models with agencies in major markets. She has a BA from The College of William & Mary and experience in real estate, advertising, human resources, video production, and the arts. She’s also a published author with books available on Amazon. Ann regularly attends fashion events in New York including Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, as well as shows in Washington DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami, Ann created the concept that has become VA Fashion Week as a way to bring NY style fashion shows to the Hampton Roads area and to spotlight the design talent, models, and creative talent that call this region home.
3419 Virginia Beach Blvd. # 149, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
VA Fashion Week
COMPANY SPONSOR
COZYPURE
Organic Mattresses & Bedding
Makers of Holistic Organic Mattresses & Bedding | Celebrating 35 Years
For more than three decades, CozyPure has been a pioneer in organic mattresses and bedding, long before “green” became a marketing trend. Founded on the belief that what we sleep on matters, CozyPure designs and handcrafts products using certified organic and natural materials chosen for both human health and environmental responsibility.
Hand-crafted products are made in our historic Norfolk workshop, powered in part by on-site solar energy. From material sourcing to manufacturing, CozyPure remains committed to transparency, durability, and thoughtful design—creating sleep essentials that support well-being, sustainability, and a more intentional way of living.
2308 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23517
CozyPure Organic Mattresses & Bedding
VENUE SPONSOR
AJ GATOR’S
Ocean View East Beach
Located on Shore Drive in East Beach, AJ Gator’s Ocean View is a spacious, welcoming gathering place for the Ocean View community. Known for great food, cold drinks, and an easygoing atmosphere, this location has become a neighborhood favorite for bringing people together.
The Ocean View staff has consistently shown strong support for local organizations and events, recently hosting the OV Sea Hags at their customer appreciation night with enthusiasm and professionalism. Their openness to community-driven programming and their ability to host large, lively gatherings make this location a natural fit for collaborative events.
AJ Gator’s Ocean View also plays an active role in local Chesapeake Bay culture, regularly welcoming members of the sailing community every Wednesday, whose weekly races take place on the Chesapeake Bay from April through September.
Founded in 1996 by two friends with a shared love of sports and good food, AJ Gator’s began in Chesapeake and has grown across Hampton Roads while maintaining its core mission: to be a place where people come to relax, connect, and have a good time. For this event, we are proud to partner specifically with the Ocean View location in recognition of its local engagement and community spirit.
9575 Shore Drive, Norfolk, VA 23518
AJ Gator’s Ocean View
WHEN:
Sunday, April 19, 2026
5 – 6 PM Meet & Mingle
6 – 7 PM Witch Walk & Broom Dance
WHERE:
AJ Gator’s Sports Bar & Grill
9575 Shore Drive
Norfolk, VA 23518
