On the evening of March 30 in the Kryzsko Solarium, the Environmental Club of Winona State University hosted their second upcycling workshop of the year. Organizer Rachel Fredrick, a junior, explained the purpose of the workshop and what it does for the Winona State community.
“We are running an upcycling workshop to promote the second use of items,” Fredrick said.
Senior Madeline Palmer chimed in to talk about the second life people can give clothing by thrifting and upcycling.
“Want to give people the opportunity to learn skills on how to fix up their own clothes and better skills to use when thrifting so we don’t have so much waste in the landfill,” Palmer said.
In addition to showing students that clothing can be given a second life, Fredrick also found that providing students with resources to upcycle their clothing was an important thing that not many people had access to.
“College kids don’t have a lot of materials with them to fix stuff,” Fredrick said. “So providing them with materials is a huge part of this.”
The club provided sewing machines, embroidery equipment, hand sewing materials, fabric, and more that was available for use to anyone who was interested.
Fredrick mentioned that the upcycling workshop was a great way for students to prepare for Earth Day, as there will be multiple events across campus to check out.
“We’re in collaboration with Student Senate. They’re going to do an event on Earth Day with a little thrift shop, and that will be 11-1 at the gazebo,” Fredrick said. “…We’re also teaming up with the business department, and they’re hosting a thrift shop and showing that you can thrift business casual clothes too.”
Palmer commented on the event that the Environmental Club is hosting to celebrate and spread awareness for Earth Day.
“[The fashion workshop was hosted] to gear up for our thrifted fashion show that we are going to have on Earth Day,” Palmer said. “If you find a really cool thrifted piece and you want to show it off, [the fashion show] is the opportunity to do that.”
The thrifted fashion show will take place in the Solarium in Kryzsko Commons on Earth Day (April 22). Reach out to an Environmental Club member with any questions.
