Sustainable Style: Join Us at the Valley Eco Fair
- Sustainable Stillwater MN

- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Students from the local Sustainable Fashion Club have been hard at work transforming vintage t-shirts into one-of-a-kind pieces, proving that style doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense. With support from our friends at Valley Outreach, the donated shirts have been given new life in fun and creative ways.

Upcycled Fashion for a Cause
At the Valley Eco Fair on Sunday, April 26th, these unique, upcycled tees will be available for a suggested donation of $10, with 100% of proceeds going toward the installation of a public EV charging station near downtown Stillwater.
But this event isn’t just about shopping—it’s about, learning, and reimagining what’s possible.
Bring your own shirt and join in the fun:
Use fabric paint and stencils to customize a shirt from your own closet
Get inspired with ideas to refresh and reinvent pieces in your wardrobe
Turn everyday items into something personal, creative, and sustainable
It’s also a great opportunity to spark conversations about sustainability, because sometimes the best way to start change is simply by wearing it.
Swap, Learn, and Connect
The event will also feature a clothing swap, making it easy to:
Donate gently used items
Trade for something “new-to-you”
Upgrade your closet without buying new
And while you're there, don’t miss the chance to sign up for an EV test drive. Even if you don’t currently drive an electric vehicle, participating helps generate additional donations toward the charging station project—and supports a cleaner, more connected local community.
At its core, this event reflects what Sustainable Stillwater MN is all about: supporting the local economy, protecting the environment, and strengthening community connections.

Key Facts About Fast Fashion
The fashion industry produces about 8% of global carbon emissions.
92 million tons of clothes go to landfill every year, contributing to massive waste.
It takes around 700 gallons of water to make a single cotton shirt.
The average American discards about 65 pounds of clothing annually.
Events like the Valley Eco Fair show that small, local actions can have a big impact. Whether you’re swapping clothes, customizing a tee, or simply showing up to learn, you’re helping build a more sustainable future—It Starts Right Here!
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It is truly inspiring to see events like the Valley Eco Fair promoting sustainable style, as finding a balance between our personal choices and the health of the environment is something I reflect on deeply while navigating the intensive rigors of my current PhD research. Balancing my doctoral studies with a part-time role at last minute assignments has given me a front-row seat to the modern student experience, where academic goals often clash with overwhelming technical deadlines and the desire to live a more conscious, balanced life; having suffered through many high-stress hustles and sleepless nights during my own college days, I am now incredibly conscious of the mental and physical toll that an unmanaged workload can take. This personal…