A pile of discarded water bottles, Dockers, Chinese robes and worn briefcases is a common sight at The Help Desk, a donation center in
the Tenderloin. Less frequent is the sight of models strutting down a runway, wearing the same items transformed into haute couture. In its fourth year, the “Discarded to Divine” fashion event, which was held on May 7th, aims to auction off clothing and accessories made from recycled pieces of clothing for people most in need of new outfits and support. The organizers of the event, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, helped fund the largest homeless shelter in Northern California and some of the largest shelters for battered women in the San Francisco, which help more than 75,000 people each year. Honorary chairperson of the event, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, expressed her strong feelings about helping the homeless people of San Francisco in as many diverse ways as people can imagine. “We all know the problems of the homeless are so complex and ‘Discarded to Divine’ is one great example of finding a solution,” said Newsom. While many of the designers were recruited from local campuses of the Institute for Fashion Design and Merchandising and the Art Institute of San Francisco, there were a few exceptions, including a handful of pre-teens, an SF State fashion major and a former contestant on Bravo’s hit TV series, Project Runway. SF State fashion student Diana Wong’s Yves Saint Laurent inspired design almost didn’t make it to the “Discarded to Divine” fashion show. “I got sick during Christmas break and the deadline passed,” said 24-year-old Wong. “But I felt it was something I had to do when they gave me the extension.”
“I loved the whole idea of the cause and I am just excited that they picked my piece. Now I have to finish my own line to complete my field study.”