There’s a lot of garbage out there. Literally, by the last estimate of the UN Environmental Programme, more than 11 billion tons of solid waste is collected worldwide, every year.
For comparison, the total weight of human biomass on Earth is estimated at 0.06 billion tons. What can you do with all that trash? In the hands of a skilled artist, some amazing things. This is what Madison Van Der Lingen and her company, MadVan Design, have set out to do.
“[We] focus on using upcycled materials and deadstock textiles to not add any more waste to the fashion industry”
Founded in 2019, MadVan Design is an Albuquerque-based company working on more sustainable fashion, with a ”focus on using upcycled materials and deadstock textiles to not add any more waste to the fashion industry”, a message that is definitely resonating. On May 19th, in front of the largest regional congregation of her colleagues in the industry, Madison was announced as Denver Fashion Week’s Designer of the Year for 2023, and the Taos-native is bringing that energy back to New Mexico with a new show in June.
“[Our work] highlights the ethereal…whimsical parts of New Mexico”
“ABSOLUTE RUBBISH: A TRASHION SHOW” is the latest environmental fashion effort from MadVan, who is serving as the show’s fashion and runway coordinator, and will be held on June 13th at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. MadVan’s work “highlights the ethereal, whimsical parts of New Mexico”, making Meow Wolf the perfect setting for this showing of upcycled, trash-based fashion. Madison has also been hosting community workshops for other local artists, all of whose work will be featured in the show, and all built around the same common theme: turning waste into wonder. With works being compiled for the show made from all manner of refuse, from excessive, industrial packaging materials to old, abandoned stuffed animals, the evening promises to be a journey through an imaginative wasteland of modern fantasy. As far as the local fashion scene is concerned, Madison says “it has potential to grow into something very beautiful… We have a lot of creative folks here, so I don’t see why it can’t be extraordinary.” We couldn’t agree more.
Get your Tickets Here!
Article By Ian Rafael Black
Photos Courtesy of MediaNext/MadVan Design
Clothing by MadVan Design
Models: Christine Mitchell and Barbie Mya
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