Young Spokane designer headed to Fashion Week | Arts & Culture

You may have heard the saying the one man's trash is another man's treasure. One Spokane designer is using that phrase to make clothes out of reuseable materials. 

Rachel Mace is only 22 but she's getting ready to show her designs in one of the biggest fashion events in the United States, New York's Fashion Week. 

"Fashion Week is the biggest event in fashion in our continent," said Mace. 

Fashion Week is known by designers and fashion enthusiasts everywhere as one of the "must attend" events. In fact big names such as Donna Karan and Chanel show their pieces at this event while stars like Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and Heidi Klum attend their shows. 

Although Rachel didn't have any formal training as a designer like others that will be at the event, she said she got her start when someone recognized her talent. 

"I went to the store and bought some garbage bags, but when I home and realized I already had some. So I made a skirt out of the new ones," said Mace. 

It was that decision to use reusable materials that helped her get her start. 

"A designer named Ronnie Ryno saw a picture of me wearing the skirt on my facebook page. She asked me if I could put 10 pieces show in August," said Mace. 

Although Mace just had the skirt, she decided to make more pieces. 

She now has several dresses and items made out of garbage bags, plastic wrap, and pretty much anything that is not fabric. And Mace said that's the only type of material she likes to use. 

"I look at a piece of fabric and I don't know what to do with it. But paper I know exactly what to do with," said Mace. 

Mace said she also can not have started designing without the help of others. Business and friends have given her all sorts of materials to work with and even help her get the word out. However, she still needs help to get her designs and models to Fashion Week. 

On Saturday, September 1, her models and supporters will be having a car wash as part of a fundraiser for her trip. The car wash will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the car wash at Nevada Street and Lyons Avenue. 

Mace and her models will be leaving September 13 for New York. 

You can learn more about Mace and her designs by clicking here. Or search for her on facebook by searching Totally Trashed Fashion. 

You can also donate online by clicking here.