Edina High School’s Project Earth club will host a clothing swap on Feb. 28th from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at EHS to promote fashion sustainability.
Club advisor and algebra teacher Paul Thompson said thrifting is important to encourage reusing items, “especially when we can repurpose perfectly good clothes.”
“Fast fashion is one of the biggest contributors to pollution and global waste,” senior and Project Earth co-leader Nancy Vega said. “Since Project Earth is an environmental club, we really wanted to do something to reduce that.”
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency estimates that 134,000 to 192,000 tons of textiles are thrown out in the state each year. Only 8,168 tons head to recyclers.
“It’s a fun time. You can go to the swap with your friends, make a little outing out of it, and still be helping the environment,” sophomore and club co-leader Leighton Dodd said.
The clothing swap is one of the Project Earth Club’s annual traditions. The event is organized in collaboration with the UNICEF club and South View Environmental Group, which organizes clothing drives at South View Middle School.
Community members are welcome to drop off their old clothes at EHS on Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon.
“If people, especially those who are fearful of what is happening in the community right now, know that there is a safe space for them where they can be engaged, then it could really benefit them,” Thompson said. “We need to share the love right now, and this is a way to do that.”
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on Feb. 19, 2026
