In most Utah towns, wearing outrageous costumes crafted from brightly colored vinyl records might cause an outcry. But not in Moab. Once a year this little desert town lets its freak flag fly high — while promoting recycled fashion and other good causes to boot. WabiSabi, a Moab-based nonprofit thrift store, is sponsoring its Eighth Annual Mardi Gras Fashion Show Bizarre to benefit area nonprofit organizations. The locals-favorite event is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, at Old Spanish Trail Arena. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with the event starting at 7:00.

This year’s theme is “Moab Montage,” a unique look at various film genres, including Japanese anime, pirates, spy film, film noir and more. Ten Moab designers – using donated materials from WabiSabi’s thrift stores – will showcase their cinema-inspired, handcrafted wares as models strut their stuff down the runway. Outfits from previous shows have included gladiators costumed in a kaleidoscope armor made from aluminum cans, dresses glittering with patterns made from smashed mirrors, and a “fur coat” made entirely from kids' stuffed animals. Each eclectic outfit is auctioned off as a fundraiser for area nonprofit organizations. In past shows outfits have sold for more than $600.

In addition to haute couture, the evening will include live music by The Butchers, dancing, food, beverages, some of Moab’s finest – and wildest – entertainers, and much more.

“Each year the show gets better,” says Jeff Cohen, Executive Director of WabiSabi. “We’re going bigger with the outfits, we’re going bigger with the performances, we’ll be seeing creatures with six-foot wingspans, and the show will include special effects and stunts unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

WabiSabi’s fashion show has seen an exponential increase in popularity over the years, and the 2010 show promises to be the biggest yet. Last year, Salt Lake City Weekly named the event Utah’s “Best Recycled Fashion Show,” saying, “The event promises a chance to savor the most cutting edge fashions of the recycled aesthetic along with one hell of a Fat Tuesday party.”

Tickets are $15 general admission, $35 for VIP tickets, and $45 for front row seating. Also, tables seating eight – alongside the runway – are available for $400. Tickets go on sale January 10 at the WabiSabi Thriftique and online at www.wabisabimoab.org. The price of admission includes a chance to bid on one-of-a-kind fashions straight off the runway.

“This has always been Moab’s biggest party of the year. Not only does it showcase models in outrageous, eye-popping costumes, but the audience members dress up as well,” says Cohen. “This is a celebration of community organizations, the arts – including visual, musical and performance – and everything that makes Moab such a unique, diverse and thriving community.”

In addition to being wildly entertaining, the fashion show supports the Moab community. Proceeds from the event will be distributed among WabiSabi’s 14 nonprofit partners, including: Active Re-Entry, BEACON After School Program, Moab Teen Center, Community Rebuilds, Humane Society, KZMU Community Radio, Moab Free Health Clinic, Moab Valley Multicultural Center, Native American Club, Recycling Center, Red Rock Forests, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Seekhaven and Youth Garden Project.

This is a 21-and-over only event, and a valid ID is necessary for admission.

WabiSabi is an integral part of the Moab community, supporting its eclectic sense of identity and the diversity of residents that comprise it. To learn more, visit www.wabisabimoab.org.