From Trash to Runway: Trashion Fashion 2026 Returns to Sayulita May 7th

Sayulita Community Joanna Eliel May 1, 2026 0 Comments

From Trash to Runway: Trashion Fashion 2026 Returns to Sayulita May 7th

A Fundraiser for Azul Sayu, A.C.

As high season winds down and Sayulita settles into the slower rhythms of summer, May has a way of reminding us what really makes this town special — the people quietly working behind the scenes to keep our streets, beaches, and jungle as beautiful as the day we first fell in love with them. This year’s Trashion Fashion event on May 7th is a celebration of exactly that: creativity meeting conservation, neighbors meeting purpose, and proof that what some see as trash, our community sees as opportunity. Here’s everything you need to know about the event, the cause it supports, and how you can join in.

On May 7th, our 7th Annual Trashion Fashion Event, to benefit Azul Sayu, will be held at Rancho Poco a Poco. Azul Sayu is an Asociación Civil, a legally registered not-for-profit organization in the state of Nayarit, and manages our local recycling program. Azul Sayu now has close to 200 recycle bins in Sayulita and San Ignacio! The program works with restaurants, bars, homes, developments, schools, and parks to significantly reduce trash in our communities.

Trashion Fashion was created by Flora Amor as a community educational event to inspire us to reduce and reuse products in our lives — and to keep doing our best to protect our streets, jungle, and ocean. This year, 33 models will walk the runway in designs made from found objects and what others might consider trash; all designs are created by local artists. Trashion Fashion is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate creativity and remind ourselves of the importance of caring for and respecting our environment. All proceeds and donations go directly to Azul Sayu services, including recycling, community clean-ups, and education programs.

Azul Sayu receives no government funding, and contributions are greatly appreciated! If you’re in the US, a donation can be made online and is tax-deductible for US filers who itemize. Keep this program going by visiting the donation site:

Donate to Azul Sayu

Did you know?

While the local government provides trash services to our county — Bahía de Banderas — no recycling services are provided or funded.

The current budget for the Azul Sayu program is approximately $45,000 pesos per month and operates 6 days a week. Costs include salaries for 2 employees, rent for a sorting and storage facility (called the acopio), payments to recycle glass and cardboard, gas, vehicle maintenance, materials, taxes, and accounting fees. The program operates very efficiently!

We also have a corporate sponsorship program! The Azul Sayu presenting sponsor for 2026 is MexHome. Champion sponsors include Pro Sayulita and Mercado del Pueblo. Eco Warriors include Cachasol, Gabriel Jones, Ocho Estrella, and Sayulita Coastal Properties. Heroes include Chaman Creative Kitchen, Nawalli Plaza, SayulitaLife, and Sayulita Public House!

Recycling services are free to the community! Revenue earned from the nominal fees charged for private pick-up service covers about 25% of Azul Sayu’s budget. The remaining 75% is covered by donations from generous community members and business sponsors.

In addition to recycling services, Azul Sayu organizes monthly beach clean-ups and clean-ups associated with all surf events. Our team also helps clean and maintain streets in our community.

While many countries have simply given up on recycling due to cost and effort, Mexico is still in the game. Part of the reason Mexico can continue recycling is that the country has chosen to only recycle items that can be processed locally. This keeps costs down and use up! For example, that wine bottle you just emptied will be sent to a factory in Mexico City to be ground down and formed into new glasses. That plastic Coke bottle you just drank will head to Guadalajara to be shredded, melted, and formed into carpets or tires.

How does the local program work?

In this area, Azul Sayu is able to recycle glass, metal, PET plastics, and cardboard.

Recycling is a clean process, so items need to be clean and separated from trash to be recyclable. For example, cardboard is recycled by shredding it, so it cannot be wet or stained with oil (like a used pizza box).

Let’s all work together to reduce trash in Sayulita by educating our children, diverting recyclables from trash piles to recycling bins, and supporting Azul Sayu as they provide valuable community services. Make your contribution today.