Troy D. Sides
Features Editor

If you knew that buying clothes would support a nonprofit organization, wouldn’t you go shopping more often?
That is the logic behind “Wabi Sabi,” a pair of thrift stores in Moab, Utah, that sell vintage clothing and costumes, the proceeds of which go toward 14 different nonprofit organizations in Moab, ranging from after-school programs to free health clinics.
On Feb. 20, Wabi Sabi is hosting a fashion show in the Spanish Valley Arena in Moab, an annual event that has raised thousands of dollars for these nonprofit organizations in the five years of its existence.
“The nonprofits are benefitted by up to $1,000, but it’s also about educating the public about nonprofits,” said Jeff Cohen, the executive director of Wabi Sabi. “People will come up to me and say, ‘Wow, I didn’t even know we had a free health clinic!’”
“Wabi Sabi” is Japanese for “perfect through imperfection.” Wabi Sabi stands by that translation, as most of the clothes and costumes that will be on display during the fashion show are constructed by nine local artists from trash and scrap clothing. Such clothing includes a “fur” coat made exclusively out of stuffed animals, and another costume composed of hundreds of CDs.
“Wabi Sabi is basically a Goodwill and a Habitat for Humanity combined,” Cohen said, “but it also allows me to be creative and help the community at the same time.”
The fashion show, called the “Moab Montage,” due to the film theme this year, brings in at least $6,000 but can also raise as much as $10,000 from sales. This year the “Montage” is expecting over 600 people, more than double the number that attended last year, so expect that sales number to increase significantly.
“We want to make this bigger and bigger each year,” Cohen said. “We want to make this an event that’s a must-see and cater it to hundreds of people. The other big thing is to support artists and to give them a venue to display their stuff.”
Throughout “Moab Montage,” attendees can “vote” for whichever nonprofit organization in Moab they feel is most worth supporting, and whichever organization receives the highest percentage of votes receives that same percentage of sales. If the Beacon After School Program, for example, receives 25 percent of the votes, it will receive 25 percent of the money raised during the fashion show. The rest of the money raised is evenly distributed among the rest of the thirteen nonprofit organizations.
“We hear back from these organizations about how they are benefited and how they appreciate the show,” Cohen said. “It’s a great way to get involved in the community because I work with basically every nonprofit in the community.”
For Cohen, however, there’s nothing like putting on an event that is as entertaining as it is for the people, but also as beneficial as it is for the community.
“Seeing the money go to the nonprofits is really exciting,” he said. “The energy people bring to this event is really rewarding; they have such a great time for such a great cause. It’s really a win-win situation.”
Tickets are available online at www.wabisabimoab.org and are $15 general admission and $35 VIP. You must be over 21 years old to attend. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event begins at 7 p.m.
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tsides@mesastate.edu