At Goodwill Columbus, creativity and sustainability go hand in hand. Every donated item has the potential for a second life — to be reimagined, repurposed, and cherished again. Few people capture that spirit more beautifully than local designer Xantha Ward, whose journey began in the aisles of Goodwill and has since taken her work to international runways.
Nearly forty years ago, Xantha was a young mother working at a bank, sketching clothing ideas between balancing ledgers. She dreamed of becoming a designer but didn’t have the means to buy new fabric. Her solution was simple and inspired.
“I would go to Goodwill and reconstruct and remake things by taking other items apart,” she recalls. “Mostly denim.”
That spark of creativity became her calling card. Her first collection, Ghetto Blues, was built on resourcefulness and imagination, proving that fashion doesn’t have to start with something new. Over time, her work evolved into Xantha Couturière, a design house whose pieces have been featured in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and on runways in Washington D.C., Milan, and Paris.
A Partnership Woven with Purpose
Decades after those early thrift-store creations, Xantha reconnected with Goodwill Columbus to show how secondhand materials can form the foundation for high fashion.
In 2024, she designed four couture looks entirely from items found in our stores. Each one told a story of transformation.The collection inspired both shoppers and staff, proving that sustainability and style truly belong together.
Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Completely Thrifted
This year, our collaboration took a new turn toward bridalwear.
For 2025, Xantha created a one-of-a-kind wedding gown made completely from thrifted materials. The gown, titled Something Borrowed, Something Blue, is now on display at our Clintonville Goodwill store.
The piece celebrates both the emotional meaning of a wedding and the power of reuse.
Every purchase or donation at Goodwill helps extend the life of materials and supports our mission of creating Opportunity for All. Each year, Goodwill Columbus diverts more than 7 million pounds of textiles and goods from local landfills, showing that small, mindful choices can make a big difference.
For Xantha, this project represents more than fashion. It’s a return to her beginnings.
“When me and my baby were struggling, and I couldn’t buy fabric, Goodwill gave me the freedom to create,” she says. “That freedom changed everything.”
Today, her work continues to inspire others to see the beauty in what already exists. Together, Goodwill Columbus and Xantha Ward are showing that style doesn’t have to be brand new, it just needs a second chance.
See It in Person
Visit our Clintonville Goodwill store now to see Something Borrowed, Something Blue in person. Discover how creativity and sustainability come together — and how your next great idea might start with a thrifted find.
Clintonville Retail Store located at 5300 North High Street
