What happens when local artists stop seeing discarded materials as trash and begin viewing them as fabric, texture and inspiration?

The answer will be on display during Eco-Couture, a new exhibition opening Friday, August 7, inside the Immersive Higby Gallery at the Panama City Center for the Arts.

The public is invited to attend the opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, located at 19 E. 4th Street in Historic Downtown Panama City. Admission to the Center and its exhibitions is free.

Where Fashion Meets Sustainability

Eco-Couture grew from the creative community surrounding Trash Market, a grassroots initiative established on Earth Day in 2023. The organization promotes sustainability by encouraging artists, makers and residents to reconsider objects that might otherwise be discarded.

During Trash Market’s early back-alley market days, participating artists began discussing the possibility of an environmentally conscious fashion show. Three years later, that idea became a reality as designers transformed existing and discarded materials into imaginative wearable art.

The Eco-Couture gallery exhibition commemorates that milestone and gives residents who were unable to attend the original fashion show another opportunity to experience the designs.

Rather than presenting traditional clothing made from newly purchased fabric, Eco-Couture challenges visitors to look closely at materials that are often overlooked. Items commonly labeled as waste can become sculptural garments, detailed accessories and unexpected works of art when placed in the hands of a creative designer.

A Second Life for the Runway Creations

Moving the fashions from the runway into the gallery gives visitors a different way to appreciate the work. A fashion show captures the movement and excitement of each design, while a gallery setting allows guests to pause and examine the materials, construction techniques and small details incorporated into every piece.

The exhibition also carries a broader message about consumption and waste. Its goal is not simply to display unusual outfits, but to inspire conversations about reusing what already exists.

Through imagination and resourcefulness, the participating artists demonstrate that sustainability does not have to feel limiting. It can be colorful, playful, fashionable and deeply personal.

The Center for the Arts describes the exhibit as an opportunity to celebrate the Eco-Couture fashion show and offer a closer look for community members who could not attend it. The exhibition is scheduled to remain on display from August 7 through September 19, 2026. (PCCenterfortheArts)

Art and Community in Historic Downtown

The Panama City Center for the Arts is owned by the City of Panama City and managed by the nonprofit Bay Arts Alliance. Located in the city’s historic former City Hall building, the Center hosts more than 30 exhibitions annually along with classes, performances and community events. 

Eco-Couture offers local residents an opportunity to support area artists while exploring a timely environmental message. Visitors may leave with more than an appreciation for the garments, they may also begin looking at the objects around them a little differently.

Event Details

What: Gallery Opening: Eco-Couture in the Immersive Higby Gallery

Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Time: 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Exhibition dates: August 7– September 19, 2026
Location: Panama City Center for the Arts
Address: 19 E. 4th Street, Panama City, Florida

Admission: Free
Regular gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; open until 7:00 p.m. on Fridays 

See Article on Eco-Couture Where Fashion Meets Sustainability

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