Bell Gardens To Host Recycled Fashion Show Saturday

BELL GARDENS, Calif. — Sustainability and style will take center stage on Saturday at the second Bell Gardens Recycled Fashion Show, hosted during the city’s Spring Festival at Veterans Park.

The event, organized by local arts collective BGArts in partnership with sewing instructor and community advocate Ana Elena Sifuentes, begins at 1:30 p.m. and will feature 23 emerging designers. Each participant will present original garments crafted from discarded, recycled or organic materials.

According to an event press release, the show is more than a fashion showcase—it aims to challenge fast fashion’s environmental impact while celebrating cultural identity and community resilience.

“It invites all of us to imagine a world where fashion is a force for justice,” the release states, “not waste.”

Councilmember and BGArts co-founder Marco Barcena said the event was born from a group of BGArts members who were in a sewing class and wanted to create a fashion show using inexpensive and recycled materials. Sifuentes, who emceed last year’s show, now teaches a city-sponsored sewing class and the event will give her students an opportunity to showcase their work. 

While the city’s programming traditionally focuses on sports and recreation, Barcena said this event plays an important role in supporting creativity and raising awareness about environmental impact.

“It’s literally arts education and we expand on that by making it an environmental event,” Barcena said in a phone interview. “Bell Gardens is in an area of LA County where we have the highest levels of air pollution and we know that a lot of that pollution comes from overconsumption.” 

“This event is about consuming less and recycling and reusing materials,” he said. 

With support from local businesses, a panel of judges will award prizes to the top three designers. Barcena said the SELA Kiwanis Club will also provide eight scholarships totaling $2,000 to student designers and photographers.

The fashion show is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

Event Details:

• Bell Gardens Veterans Park, 6662 Loveland St., Bell Gardens, CA 90201
• Saturday, April 12
• Show begins at 1:30 p.m.
• Free admission
• Prizes for top 3 designs, sponsored by local businesses

For more information, visit @gobgarts.