“Don’t limit yourself,” said Sharon Denise Julien, executive director of R.O.S.E. “God is trying to bless you, but you have to be willing to take your trash and turn it into treasure.”
And with her St. Louis debut, Julien used her God-given gift for fashion to prove herself true.
The familiar sound of rattling garbage bags echoed from backstage as the organizers tried with all of their might to strategically place the audience that overflowed into the foyer. But the noise and glossy texture were the only remnants of recognition as the models ripped the runway in Julien’s designs.
Julien had accomplished with multi-colored Hefty bags, paper mache and faux fur what some designers couldn’t pull off with the highest end of professional fabrics. She made garbage bags look good! Blinged out, grommets, a-lines, jumpsuits and cocktail dresses were displayed as the audience exploded with delight and awe.
The theme of the show is a metaphor of what she does at home in California through her organization. Through a 10-week program for at-risk young women, Julien teaches them how to make a blessing out of their mess and the fashion show is the culmination. The show has traveled to New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Birmingham before making its St. Louis debut thanks in part to the financial literacy and accounting organization Scattered Seeds.
But it was apparent as she introduced herself that the purpose of the evening’s festivities were much more about faith than fashion. Hallelujahs echoed from the audience that squeezed into one of the Sheraton Clayton’s ballrooms. Faith and community leaders sat next to fashionistas, both equally eager to see what the evening would bring.
Unlike the typical runway show, a testimony would start the festivities for the “We Walk By Faith” fashion experience.
Julien spoke of the tragic turn of events that left her disabled at 18. A car accident following a successful first year of college left her with physical challenges, but she reminded the crowd that through faith she has been able to rise above the circumstances of her injuries.
“I’m here in St. Louis to encourage you,” Julien said. “Whatever option the devil is trying to get you to accept that doesn’t give you a promising future, just reject it and say, ‘No deal.’”
She spoke being led to create her unique “fashion ministry.”
“God said to me, ‘Here’s what the deal is, you are going to make outfits out of trash bags. You are going to go into these cities and do these shows for free,’” Julien said.
She said God continued, “‘All you have to do is tell them what I’ve done for you. And after you tell them what I’ve done for you, just tell them you would like to pray for them because somebody prayed for you.’”
And so she did.
“Where God gives vision, he gives provision,” Julien said. “I can give you money, but money won’t last. I can give you an entertaining evening, but entertaining evenings won’t last. The greatest gift that God has given us is to pray for one another.”
With an “amen,” the fashion commenced – and it was a sight to behold.
Colors, textures, accessories, coupled with unique lines and structure, made the bags all but unrecognizable as they elegantly paid tribute to current style trends and classic looks, ranging from the little black dress to colorful jumpers that pay tribute to the 1980s “anything goes” style of fashion that’s currently all the rage.
But the showcase of trash-turned-fashion was bigger than just paying homage to hot styles. By showcasing designs stitched together by garbage bags, the women were actually adorned in potential – and the notion that with faith all things are possible.
“God has given us all something to do,” Julien said. “And as I look at this trash bag fashion show, I am amazed at what God has blessed me to do with a common trash bag.”
