The good folks of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Indianapolis have come up with a great idea for a fashion show that puts the spotlight on green living and giving back to the community: the 2008 Recycled Threads Fashion Show. The event will take place on Friday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 6450 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Recycled Threads show is also a contest, and Epworth United Methodist, along with its cosponsors (+Indiana Living Green Magazine,+ Interfaith Alliance Indianapolis Care For Creation Committee, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and Dress for Success Indianapolis), are hoping to discover the next Tara Subkoff while doing good. The requirements for the contest are as follows:

Purchase clothing or accessories (shoes, stockings and undergarments are not allowed) at a second-hand clothing, consignment or thrift store. Alter them imaginatively with new or second-hand items, including normal embellishments such as buttons, appliqué or embroidery. Contestants are especially encouraged to use household or office items that would otherwise be thrown away (someone watched the episode of Ugly Betty where Christina made couture out of paper clips, methinks.)

The contest is open to individuals and groups in the categories of children's wear (6-12), teens (13-18), women's wear and men's wear. The outfits will be judged on stylishness, imagination, appearance, cost savings and audience reaction.

Prizes will be awarded by category; first place wins $75, second place nets $50, and third place is $25. In addition, all entries in the children's category will receive a small prize for participation.

Contest entry deadline is November 6, 2008. All entrants must pay an application fee, which is $15 per adult, $10 per teenager and $5 per child. All proceeds benefit the charitable organizations sponsoring the contest. The entries will be judged by a panel and the top examples in each category will be accepted for the show, with final judging taking place there. It sounds like so much fun I'm hoping the idea catches fire and spreads across the country to the East Coast! Maybe I'll enter just for the heck of it! Road trip to Indiana, anyone?