We recently enjoyed a preview of the garments and accessories created for this year’s Discarded to Divine, an annual benefit that taps emerging and established designers to turn cast-off clothing and textiles into new creations to raise much-needed funds for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and its programs. And with yesterday’s news that Project Runway contestant and San Francisco resident Jay Nicolas Sario is creating a garment as a guest designer for this year’s event, the spotlight on this San Francisco fashion event is only getting brighter.

We’re devoted fans of the event each year, but we were especially impressed with this year’s creations, which range from full-skirted party dresses in arresting pinks and blues to a jacket and skirt ensemble made out of reconstructed coats and outerwear. Some pieces tended toward the fanciful and exotic, while others were completely wearable options that we could see fitting into a normal gal’s day-to-day wardrobe.

Along with the apparel for women and children, new to the event this year are accessories, handbags and items for the home. So now for the first time, if you can’t swing bidding on a complete outfit during the April event’s silent auction, you can waltz away with a smaller, but no less meaningful souvenir in the form of a necklace, patchwork pillow or scarf.

Discarded to Divine takes place on April 29, and there’s a sneak preview on April 9 at the de Young museum.

In the meantime, enjoy a sampling of this year’s submissions.

Photography courtesy Gabriel Harber for Discarded to Divine

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