On the evening of August 26, 2026, the warehouse-chic space of Events at Haven in Birmingham's Southside district will transform into something unexpected: a high-fashion runway where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Pants that once hung on a Goodwill rack may be sliced into an avant-garde jacket. A dated floral dress might be reimagined into a tailored two-piece. But beneath the sequins and the shears lies something far more meaningful than a stylish evening out. RECLAIMED: Renaissance Runway, the brainchild of Alabama Goodwill Industries, returns this year as the organization's signature annual fundraiser—and its second-ever edition. Last year's debut, held at WorkPlay in August 2025, pulled the community together for a cause that, on its face, seems as simple as it is profound: second chances. In one year, the show raised $15,377 toward Alabama Goodwill's workforce development programs, a figure that, while impressive for a first-year event, only scratches the surface of the organization's sweeping impact.
The concept behind RECLAIMED is both straightforward and radical in the age of fast fashion. Local designers transform donated Goodwill clothing into original, runway-worthy looks. The design challenge for 2026 pushes the theme even further: designers must craft "Workforce Ready" looks—outfits that speak to confidence, versatility, and professional opportunity. Each creation carries the weight of the organization's day-to-day work, which is far vaster than a single night of fashion. In the past year alone, Alabama Goodwill collected 587,353 donations, created 75 new jobs, provided 23,504 hours of funded training, served 1,833 individuals, and kept 5,760,311 pounds of materials out of landfills.
The real transformation, though, happens on the bodies of the models. Unlike a typical runway show where professional mannequins dominate, RECLAIMED puts Alabama Goodwill team members and program participants on the catwalk. Each designer is paired with a Goodwill employee or trainee whose own story of resilience mirrors the second life the clothing receives. Take Cuca Keeder, a graduate of the Birmingham City Schools Work-Based Learning Program, who earned acceptance into the Project SEARCH program. She'll walk with designer Jordan Kearri (Moochie), a Tuscaloosa fashion designer known for bold, wearable art. "My experience at Alabama Goodwill helped me grow in ways I never expected," Keeder said. "I gained valuable workplace skills, built confidence in my abilities and learned the importance of teamwork, responsibility, and serving others." Then there's Danyell Benson, who found Alabama Goodwill through Hope Inspired Ministries and describes the organization as "the beginning of a new chapter filled with growth and opportunity." He'll strut with Gadsden designer Vickey P. White, whose collection draws inspiration from transformation and workforce readiness. White, a returning designer, captured the event's spirit succinctly: "Seeing people walk in pieces that tell a story of who they're becoming—reclaiming confidence, beauty and purpose—is what excites me most about RECLAIMED. It's more than a fashion show; it's a movement." Sharron Jackson, an Alabama Goodwill team member who became an amputee before discovering new confidence through Goodwill training, will also walk the runway alongside returning designer Michelle Farley.
The design roster for this year's show is a who's who of Birmingham-area creative energy. Alongside Farley, White, and Kearri (Moochie) are Odus Smith and Karnisia Hicks, all of whom were featured in pre-show fashion shoots with photographer Nathan Watson. They join a broader network of Alabama designers who have now discovered their upcycling and sustainable practices—from Daniel Grier's luxury streetwear brand Splashed by DKG to the mother-daughter duo Menj Làny Design, whose Hungarian name translates to "Go Girl!" to 17-year-old Magik Hall, a high school senior with a passion for alternative fashion. Also in the lineup: Era'Nisha Kidd of NishaK Crochet, Erica Nicole Patterson of 81 Fine, Leslie Tate of La Colección, Nadiyah Gulley of The Wonder Bureau, Cameron Williams of The Wood, and Sage Allen, who says she's been teaching herself to sew for eleven years using "throw-aways." The 2026 program echoes the same ethos.
The event's host for this year is Funnymaine, an emcee who'll bring an energetic presence to an evening that also features food and beverages. Tickets start at $35 for early-bird general admission, rise to $45 at the door, and VIP tickets run $65—and for those who can't attend, every dollar counts toward a good cause.
From its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama Goodwill Industries operates across the state, with workforce development programs such as the Birmingham City Schools Work-Based Learning Program, which pairs high school students with on-the-job training. It's a lineage of helping people discover that what's been left behind—whether donated clothes or a community member facing barriers to employment—can be reclaimed, repaired, and remade into something beautiful.
The RECLAIMED name, then, is not just an eyebrow play. Each August, racks at Birmingham Goodwill stores empty for this event. Each dress, each tie, each glove is rescued from the landfill to be seen anew on the stage. And the people who wear them aren't just passive models—they are the living proof that the organization's mission translates into real human transformation. "You won't just watch a show," the organization promises on its event page. "You'll be part of the mission." For one night each August, Birmingham residents get a front-row seat to a different kind of fashion week, one where the garments hold the ghosts of their former lives and the people wearing them hold the promise of their next chapter. All that remains is to see what comes down the runway—and who walks out changed on the other side.