Designer Applications are now open for our 2026 Reuse on the Runway Show!
Designers and artists of all backgrounds and experience levels are invited to apply for this one-of-a-kind event. All outfits are primarily made of reused/recycled materials!
Designer applications due: July 15 by 11:59pm.
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All participating designers must be available for our event on Saturday, October 17
Mandatory dress rehearsal on Sunday, October 11 (afternoon and evening)
Please be aware that our dress rehearsal date unfortunately conflicts with the last day of ACL. In the event of a conflict, we MAY be able to make an exception for designers to miss rehearsal, but we need to know in advance if you are unable to attend the rehearsal.
All applicants will hear back on whether they’ve been selected by July 22. Signed designer agreements are due EOD July 31.
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All outfits must be primarily made of reused/recycled materials. This opportunity is open to designers and artists of all backgrounds and experience levels!
Only outfits submitted by the person who created the outfit are permitted.
Head-to-toe looks are recommended and will be prioritized over partial looks.
Outfits created for other shows, events, etc. are permitted, however they must not have been shown in any previous ACR Reuse on the Runway shows.
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Designers get to share their unique talents with a supportive and enthusiastic audience! There is nothing like seeing the faces of spectators when you debut your masterpiece.
Designers get exclusive access to designer meet & make sessions.
All designers get an all access pass to the event for themselves, plus one complimentary ticket to share with a friend or family member.
Designers may have the opportunity to have their look showcased at local places of business and public art galleries.
New for 2026… Challenge Materials!
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Green & Black Lanyards
If you’re at ACR regularly, you’ve probably seen these before!
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Small Drawstring Bags
Let’s give these bags the gift of new life through fashion.
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Drink Koozies
Keeping your outfit as cool as a cold beverage.
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Binders
An especially challenging material for the brave!
Help us repurpose these common items (that we have way too many of) by incorporating them into your proposed design!
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Challenge materials are completely optional.
Availability of materials is first-come, first-serve. Please note if you’d like to use a challenge material in your Designer Application.
After designer selection, you’ll have the option to request these materials for free to incorporate into your final look(s).
Your look does not need to consist entirely of the challenge materials - you can request as much or as little as you want.
Designers will submit a form sharing the quantity and type of the materials they want. Volume-wise, we can probably provide up to a bin’s worth.
ACR will prepare the materials for you to pick up at the center. We will not be able to honor requests for specific colors/textures.
If you need specific colors/textures, we may be able to arrange for you to come by and pick out your own materials instead.
Designer Frequently Asked Questions
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Reuse comes in many forms! We consider all of the following to be forms of reuse:
Materials sourced secondhand from thrift stores, gathered from friends and family, or found at a creative reuse center like ours
Materials that would otherwise be discarded, like candy wrappers or bread tags
If your looks incorporates secondhand clothing items, we encourage you to transform them in some way (adding handcrafted elements, making significant alterations, etc)
We are also excited to offer “Challenge Materials” for 2026! These are materials that we have in large amounts at our center, and we’d love our talented designers to apply their creativity and innovation to finding new uses for them.
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Nope! Designers are welcome to model their own looks OR bring their own model (friends or family love to be asked!). To make the best use of our backstage space, we kindly request that designers only recruit 1 model in total for the 2026 runway show.
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To make the best use of our backstage space, we kindly request that designers only recruit 1 model in total for the 2026 runway show. This year, we're asking designers who plan to use a model to recruit their own model.
We will only have space backstage for designers to have ONE model each. Please email us at artists@austincreativereuse.org if you have any questions about this.
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As much as we’d love to connect you with one of our designers, we typically receive far more model inquiries than we have designers! For this reason, we won’t do any direct model-matching for 2026. If there are any designers looking for models to work with, we may put a model call out at a later date.
However, we are looking for someone to lead a Model Walk Training for our designers and models in exchange for a free ticket to the show. If you’re interested in doing this, please reach out to artists@austincreativereuse.org.
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Nope, this event is free for all designers! At Austin Creative Reuse we believe creative expression should be available to everyone, not hidden behind paywalls. While Austin Creative Reuse generally cannot provide designers with materials with which to create their looks, low-cost materials of all kinds can be found at our reuse center.
Event sponsors may also provide special materials (old gift cards anyone?) that any designer may incorporate into their look if they wish.
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Maybe! Each designer can apply to showcase up to three looks, and we aim to fit as many looks into the show as we can. We encourage first time designers to focus on creating one epic look, but will consider multiple looks for everyone.
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In March 2026, Senate Bill 12 (2023), also referred to as the “Texas Drag Ban,” went into effect in Texas after years of court battles. The law prohibits sexually explicit drag performances on public property or in front of children.
We are confident that S.B. 12 does not prohibit the artistry of the incredible individuals that have walked our runways since our first community fashion show in 2021. We do not intend to make any changes to the format or marketing of our show based on S.B. 12. However, we do want to acknowledge the larger cultural climate that surrounds our community at this time, and ensure that our designers, crew and attendees know that Austin Creative Reuse will continue to provide an event that brings us together and demonstrates the strength that comes from supporting one another.
Further helpful reading on S.B. 12: https://www.aclutx.org/app/uploads/2026/02/KYR-S.B.-12-Drag-Ban-Factsheet-1-1.pdf
Thank You To Our Supporters
Reuse on the Runway is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.