Happy Earth Month! This week’s newsletter spotlights local events, retailers and makers that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Kick off Fashion Week MN with sustainable brand Citizen-T’s launch party this week
Spring Flower Arranging with Sip N Bloom: Learn how to create your own take-home flower arrangement with this week’s workshops hosted by Sip N Bloom. You’ll create your own seasonal centerpiece with the help of Sip N Bloom's master florists, with various experience level options. Kits range from easy to intermediate and start at $65. Find this week’s dates + register @ sip-n-bloom.com
BlackBlue End of Season Sale: It’s last call on fall and winter sale items from BlackBlue. Save up to 70% on most seasonal items both in store and online, including heritage modern brands like Gitman Vintage, A.P.C., Engineered Garments and Ebbets Field Flannels. Now @ BlackBlue, 614 Selby Ave, Minneapolis, blkblu.com
WEDNESDAY, 4/10:
Felting with Scraps Class: Kick off Earth Month in this class presented by the Textile Center taught by textile artist Melissa Nyberg. She’ll teach you how to use tiny fabric bits and yarn pieces that are leftover from a crafting project to felt into a colorful coaster. All materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own scraps. 21+. Pre-registration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcome to join. Wednesday 5–7pm @ Sociable Cider Werks, 1500 Fillmore St NE, Minneapolis. $15 @ textilecentermn.org
THURSDAY, 4/11:
Fashion Week Minnesota Media Preview & Fast Fashion Protest: Kick off Fashion Week MN with this preview event with a sustainable focus hosted by artist Stephanie Dillon. Her sustainable fashion brand, Citizen-T, is dedicated to the reuse of deadstock tees, giving them new life and purpose. This carbon-conscious event shines a light on fast fashion and the waste generated by the global fashion industry, and features the latest Citizen-T designs, photo opos, bites from David Fhima and featured designers Joshua McGarvey and Addie Warg. Free & open to the public. Thursday 6–9pm @ 1651 Park Pl Blvd, St Louis Park. Register @ eventbrite.com
THURSDAY, 4/11–SUNDAY, 4/14:
Haupt Antiek Monthly Market: Vintage Garden: Open one weekend a month, antique and vintage home store Haupt Antiek is back with another edition. Refresh your home for spring with a special assortment of vintage furnishings and decor with a vintage garden theme. Thursday 9am–7pm, Friday 9am–6pm, Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 11am–4pm @ Haupt Antiek Market, 7570 W 147th St, Apple Valley, hauptantiek.com
FRIDAY, 4/12:
Animal. Vegetable. Mineral. - A New Fiber Arts Exhibition: Fiber arts collective The Snips present this exhibition of new work by local textile and fiber artists. It includes a display of RETHINK Tailoring's Condom Couture collection created for the recent Planned Parenthood fashion fundraiser. The show explores these artists’ connection to the natural resources of the earth via human consumption, creation and destruction. Opening reception Friday 7–9pm; on view Saturday & Sunday 3–7pm + 4/18–4/20 @ Squirrel Haus Arts, 3450 Snelling Ave, Minneapolis, thesnipsmpls.org
FRIDAY, 4/12–SUNDAY, 4/14:
Bunside Market: Shop vintage, jewelry, art and handmade goods from a rotating group of vendors at this new pop-up marketplace in the same building as Isles Bun & Coffee. Friday 2–7pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am–5pm @ 2756 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, @bunside_market
SATURDAY, 4/13:
Sparkle & Sass Pop-up Shop at RETHINK: Come shop from the wardrobes of local burlesque starlets Sweetpea, Deeva Rose and Petty Treason at RETHINK Tailoring. They have gone through their decades-long stash of burlesque wear, fabrics and trims, vintage clothing and lingerie, pinup pieces, go-go gear, corsets and red-carpet gowns. Saturday 11am–5pm @ RETHINKING Tailoring, 3449 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis. Free, register @ eventbrite.com
Reuse MN Fix-It Clinic: Reuse MN’s Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix items including small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash. Events are first come, first serve. Learn more at the website. Saturday noon–4pm @ Grace Center for Community Life, 1500 6th St NE, Minneapolis, reusemn.org
The Black Market Mpls: Come gather to support and celebrate Black businesses at The Black Market's monthly market. The Black Market is a Black-business marketplace that has become a vibrant community hub. This month features food trucks, games, music, art, goods for sale and more from over than 60 local, Black-owned businesses. Saturday 2–7pm @ The Case Building, 767 Eustic St, St Paul, @theblackmarketmpls
Brling It On! Accessories Swap: Swap don’t shop at the City of Edina’s free Bling It On Accessory Swap event in partnership with Reuse MN, where style meets sustainability. Bring gently loved accessories like jewelry, scarves statement purses to swap. Pre-event donations can be dropped off during business hours at either the Edina Senior Center or Edina Library this week. Accessories do not need to be brought or donated to participate. Saturday 5–7pm @ Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square #101, Edina, reusemn.org
The International Hmong Fashion Show: St. Paul–based Hmong cultural organization CHAT is bringing a group of Hmong fashion designers from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in town to showcase their work. Before the show, find beautiful Hmong-inspired arts and craft outside of the main hall in the lobby. Bonus: You can buy most of the outfits showcased on the runway after the show. Saturday, 4/13, 6:30–10:30pm, marketplace beginning at 4:30pm @ North End Event Center, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights. Tickets $60+ @ tickettailor.com
SATURDAY, 4/13 & SUNDAY, 4/14:
Lucy’s Colorful Dress Closet Spring Shopping Event: Dress boutique Lucy’s Colorful Dress Closet is a place to find all kinds of dresses, spanning vintage, modern, special occasion, ethnic, handmade, new and gently loved pieces. This weekend, they host a spring shopping event with 15% off storewide, local maker popups and more. Saturday & Sunday 10am–5pm @ 2802 W Broadway, Robbinsdale, @lucyscolorfuldresscloset
HINDES 1 Year Store Anniversary: Locally owned, handcrafted CBD-infused aromatherapy and skincare brand HINDES celebrates one year of business at its Golden Valley storefront with a weekend of special in-store events. On Saturday, join them for a day of relaxation and creativity at their DIY Tub Tea Station, plus special sales. Then on Sunday, the shop hosts a maker’s market with a curated selection of handcrafted goods from local artisans including handmade jewelry, crystals and candles in vintage glassware from Flicker & Fizz. Saturday & Sunday 10am–3pm @ HINDES, 681 Winnetka Ave N, Golden Valley, shophindes.com
SUNDAY, 4/14:
NE Farmers Market Winter Market: Head to Quincy Hall once a month for specialty foods, baked goods, beverages, fresh produce and handmade goods ready for gifting from the Northeast Farmaers Market. This Sunday, enjoy open skate with Twin Cities Skaters (10am–1pm) including free roller skate rentals. Sunday 10am–2pm @ Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, northeastfarmersmarket.com
Home Goods Swap: Join Evergreen Collective in exploring how a circular economy can work by attending this home goods swap co-presented by Reuse MN. Stop in anytime during the shop's open hours to drop off items. Then come back on Sunday to shop the swap. Items include any gently used home decor or kitchen goods. See the link for more details. Sunday 11am–4pm @ Evergreen Collective, 1104 Grand Ave, St Paul. Ticket $15, reusemn.org
FWMN presents I AM FABULOUS: Kicking of Fashion Week MN's spring season is the annual I AM FABULOUS, a fashion show that celebrates beauty and style at every age by featuring models aged 60+ in designs from local fashion designers and shops including Jordynn, Nataya Doulatt, Corazon Clothing, Jean Manrique, Smitha V and Qe'Bella Couture, plus jewelry by Nashipai, Pieces of Kandakes and SHExclusive. Shop the vendors before and after the show, and enjoy drinks and light bites. Sunday 11am–1:30pm @ The Hutton House, 10715 South Shore Dr, Medicine Lake, $40–$75fashionweekmn.com
Minneapolis Vintage Market: Minneapolis Vintage Market returns to the Machine Shop for its final indoor edition of the season. Find Minnesota's best vintage clothing, accessories and home goods vendors all in one spot, spread out between the venue’s two levels. Plus there will be be coffee, a food truck, full bar and a live DJ. Sunday noon–4pm ($10 early-bird from 11am–noon) @ Machine Shop, 300 2nd St NE, Minneapolis, mplsvintagemarket.com
Odd Market: New Uptown shop Odd Mart hosts their ongoing Odd Market this weekend with unique goods from local artists and makers including baked goods, handblown glass, pottery, prints and paintings, as well as the shop’s regular assortment of comics, zines, prints and vintage goods. Sunday noon–4pm @ Odd Mart, 2520 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, @oddmartmn
MONDAY, 4/15 & TUESDAY, 4/16:
U of MN Apparel Design Collective 24-Hour Exhibition: As Fashion Week MN approaches, the Goldstein Museum of Design has been working with the College of Design’s Apparel Design Collective to plan an event in conjunction with their latest exhibition, Firsthand. On the evening of Monday, April 15, students will showcase the process and craft of their own work (from swatches and moodboards to sketches and prototypes) in a special 24-hour installation spanning the McNeal Hall atrium and Apparel Design studios. Follow the Goldstein on Instagram or Facebook for details to come. Monday–Tuesday @ McNeal Hall, Goldstein Museum of Design, 1985 Buford Ave, St Paul, design.umn.edu
ONGOING:
Firsthand: Contemporary Craft in Context: With more than 75 items on display from across the Twin Cities and beyond, this loan-based exhibition showcases leather shoes, woolen knitwear, thrown pottery, ceramic tiles, and youth-built boats. Exceptional finished products are contextualized through the people, tools, operations and environments that produced them. On view Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10am–4:30pm. Opening reception 4/23 from 5–8pm. Ends 8/3 @ Goldstein Gallery in McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Ave, St Paul, design.umn.edu
UPCOMING:
Fashion Week MN: Spring 2024: After a season off last fall, Fashion Week MN is back with a fresh lineup of spring runway shows. For the first time presented and executive produced by the Fashion Week MN team, this year’s shows emphasize sustainability, equity and inclusion with events ranging to the returning favorite I AM FABULOUS fashion show featuring 60+ year-old models to Into the Studio, which showcases local designers with sustainability at the heart of their brands. It kicks off with a preview event on April 11 hosted by local sustainable fashion designer and painter, Stephanie Dillon. 4/14–4/20 @ various location, get tickets @ fashionweekmn.com
Runway For Hope: This annual fundraiser event benefiting the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation includes a fashion show featuring looks showcasing today’s trends by Grant Whittaker Creative and co-emceed by Grant Whittaker himself and Madelyn Nachbar, Style Editor at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Saturday, 4/20 from 10:30am–1pm @ The Westin Edina Galleria, Main Ballroom – 3201 Galleria, Edina. Tickets $125+ @ hopechest.com
Native Nations Fashion Night: The annual Native Nations Fashion Night is back with a showcase of the beauty and creativity of Native American fashion. Designers include Rebecca Mousseau, Christy Ruby and show producer Delina White (Anishinaabe). Thursday, 4/25, 5–10pm @ Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis. Tickets start at $50 @ eventbrite.com
Black Fashion Week MN: Spring 2024: The semi-annual Black Fashion Week MN event series, which spotlights fashion talent by Black creators, is back with four events that include the return of Brown Girl Magic, a streetwear-focused show and the finale, the Minnesota Met Gala. 5/3–5/11 @ various locations. Tickets now available @ eventbrite.com
Otherwordly Spring Floral Fashion Show: Local floral workshop series Sip N Bloom and stylist Amy Seeman are back for their collaborative, floral-infused fashion show where botanicals reign supreme and style meets sustainability. Inspired by a future where our planet's fate hangs in the balance, the duo reimagines haute couture for a world where oxygen is our most precious commodity. Shop local vendors before and after the show directly from the runway. 5/21 @ 5pm doors, 7pm show @ City Center, 33 S 6th St, Minneapolis. Tickets $55+ @ sip-n-bloom.com