You have over many years documented the end of project fashion show for CAP’s TRASH fashion. How did it feel to return to the event in 2025?
Returning to CAP’s TRASH Fashion Show was not only a return to filming the event and working alongside the CAP team, but also a return to work after a years gap for maternity leave. Being back this year was both nostalgic and inspiring. I worked for CAP as the This Is Me Project Coordinator but it’s actually been 6 years since I finished to take my first maternity leave with my first daughter (now I have three little ladies). To be honest it just felt like I hadn’t left and instantly felt a part of the team again and all those family vibes that you get from CAP and everything they do.
The event it self was amazing, so full of life and joy. All the groups were just so excited to be there and show off their work to family and friends. The joy was contagious and the audience at the show could not help but smile and clap throughout. And my hope is that all who watch the video are also beaming. It’s not just a fashion show—it’s a celebration of community arts, team work, imagination, and sustainability. Being able to capture this was a privilege and although it’s been 6 years it just felt like being back with the family.
Do you feel the event has changed over the years you have been documenting it?
It has definitely changed in terms of growth and numbers involved. Some of the designs this year were really something else and just so skilled. Actually so impressive! Imagination and creativity are something that have no limits and each year keep growing. Every year there are completely new looks and no two fashion shows display the same concepts or designs. What’s really stayed constant, though, is the heart of the event: the creativity, the message of sustainability, and the incredible sense of support among everyone involved. Watching it grow while staying true to its roots has been an honour.
The event can be quite chaotic. Does this make your job difficult?
Definitely—it’s chaotic, but in the best way. There’s a kind of beautiful unpredictability to the TRASH Fashion Show: last-minute fittings, quick changes, spontaneous performances. It can be a challenge to keep up, but it also makes the job so exciting. At times I’m afraid I will miss a special moment but I’ve learnt to go with the flow and just capture as much as I can. You certainly have to stay alert and flexible and just embrace it all. This year by the end of the show I was definitely ready for a seat but it was so much fun.
When you are at the event, is there a particular element you are trying to capture with your film-making?
When I’m filming the event, I’m always trying to capture the spirit of it—that mix of creativity, courage, and community. The outfits are amazing, but what I especially love is those “little moments” for example, the nervous excitement, the pride on someone’s face strutting their stuff on the catwalk, the beaming faces of those watching and the quiet teamwork that holds it all together.I really want to capture the energy and passion of the groups and the team. I want people watching the film not just to see the show, but to feel the heart behind it.
