Designer Evan Hirsch and ShopGoodwill.com brought a first-of-its-kind, fully thrifted and donated fashion collection to New York Fashion Week on Sept. 13.
The “Found Opulence” collection at the 3 West Club featured 29 unique looks, each of which was transformed from items sourced through Goodwill’s physical stores and website. Hirsch’s partnership with Goodwill emerged from a $6 red dress he bought and flipped in April, which went viral on social media.
“Found Opulence” featured gowns and suits, each of which received the same treatment as the looks from Hirsch’s viral videos. Prints, sequins, and ornate brooches added glamor to these garments, turning thrift finds into ready-to-wear couture. Many of the dresses were elevated with floral designs and mesh overlays, adding depth and texture.
The collection utilized a breadth of garment lengths and colors, treating the audience to a rainbow of looks. Many designs incorporated gold detailing, from intricate lacework to capes that draped gracefully over the model’s shoulders.
15 designs from “Found Opulence” will be available for auction exclusively on ShopGoodwill.com, giving a few lucky winners the chance to bring Hirsch’s striking designs home. Proceeds from this auction will go towards Goodwill’s workforce development program, which supports individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers with job searching, training, and placement.
Hirsch is also going to serve as ShopGoodwill.com’s Resident Fashion Expert, advocating for the environmental and social benefits of thrifting and assisting in curating thrifted fashion for the company. Through this initiative and his NYFW collection, Hirsch hopes to promote the transformative beauty of thrifting and its artistic potential.
“These garments were once overlooked, but with care and imagination, they became extraordinary,” Hirsch said in a press release. At its heart, this collection is about honoring the planet, the wearer, and the stories stitched into every thread.”
(Feature photo courtesy of John Pankratz.)
