REGENERATIVE FLEA MARKET WILL KICK OFF LA CLIMATE WEEK

A collective of sustainable fashion advocates, environmental storytellers, and climate-conscious artists are coming together to launch the Regenerative Flea Market, an immersive marketplace that blends conscious living with community action. Set to take place on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Unidad Park and Community Garden, this all-day event marks the start of Los Angeles Climate Week by celebrating sustainability, creativity, wellness, and collective solutions to the climate crisis.

The Regenerative Flea Market goes beyond a typical marketplace—it’s a movement that redefines fashion, waste, and consumption in the face of an escalating environmental crisis. The environmental impact of the fashion industry as a whole represents one of the greatest growth opportunities for increased sustainability efforts. The Boston Consulting Group has estimated that the global $2.4 trillion fashion industry has an annual material lost of $100 billion, a problem exacerbated by the fast fashion movement and which the World Bank includes a recommendation to consumers to buy fewer items at higher quality to help combat.

California, home to one of the largest apparel markets in the world, has been at the center of both the problem and the solution. The state has taken bold steps to combat fashion’s environmental footprint, including SB 62 (the Garment Worker Protection Act), which holds brands accountable for fair labor practices, and SB 707, aimed at tackling the textile waste crisis through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requiring companies to take responsibility for their waste. However, these efforts are constantly under threat from lobbying efforts by major corporations resistant to change.

On a national level, environmental regulations are being systematically dismantled. In recent years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has faced rollbacks on key climate policies, reducing oversight on pollution and weakening protections for air and water quality. The gutting of federal environmental regulations means that states like California must lead the way in enforcing sustainability policies, but even local efforts are not enough without collective consumer action.

Market shifts have significantly changed consumer and producer habits globally. In the last twenty years, the total number of garments produced annually has risen from 50 billion to 100 billion (according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation). Average consumers in 2024 are shown to buy 60% more clothing than just 20 years ago and, therefore, discard more.

“That’s where the Regenerative Flea Market comes in,” said Summer Dean, founder of Climate Diva Media. “We’re giving people tangible, creative ways to push back against the wasteful fashion cycle—from upcycling workshops and clothing swaps to education around circular fashion and ethical choices. If corporations and policymakers won’t move fast enough, it’s up to our communities to build solutions from the ground up. By supporting secondhand, upcycled, and regenerative fashion, we can reduce pollution, divert waste, and demand real change from the industry.”

“We can’t wait for the fashion industry to change from the top down,” said Lexy Silverstein, sustainable fashion advocate and co-organizer of the event. “Sustainability is a big word—and an even bigger concept. It’s overwhelming if you try to take it all on at once. The truth is, nothing in fashion is truly sustainable right now. But that doesn’t mean we can’t all start small. The Regeneration Flea Market begins with each of us making better choices, one step at a time.”

Event Highlights:

• Sustainable Fashion Pop-Ups: A curated selection of ethical fashion brands, secondhand clothing vendors, and independent designers showcasing slow fashion alternatives.
• Live DJ: Local artists will set the tone with live music throughout the day, celebrating creativity and activism.
• Panel Discussion: Exploring the deep connection between environmentalism, wellness, and mental health, this conversation will dive into the “mind-body-earth connection” and the ties between personal and collective well-being.
• Upcycling & Mending Workshops: Hands-on sessions teaching attendees how to repair, repurpose, and extend the life of their clothing, reducing textile waste. These workshops are kid and family-friendly, creating a fun and interactive space for all ages to learn skills together!
• Native Seed Bomb Making: Interactive workshops where participants create seed bombs with native plant species to support local biodiversity.
• Clothing Swap by Radical Clothes Swap: A chance to refresh your wardrobe sustainably by exchanging quality garments instead of buying new.

Featured Collaborators & Organizers:

• Climate Diva Media: A platform amplifying underrepresented voices in climate activism.
• Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust: Advocates for urban green spaces and environmental justice in underserved communities.
• Remake: A global advocacy group fighting for climate justice and fair pay in the fashion industry.
• Radical Clothes Swap: A grassroots initiative promoting circular fashion through community swaps and education.
• Lexy Silverstein: A sustainable fashion advocate known for leading impactful environmental protests and educational campaigns.
• Intersectional Environmentalist: A movement dedicated to environmental justice and inclusivity in sustainability efforts.
• Soul Maison: A slow fashion kids clothing brand that prioritizes garments that evolve with your children
• Cycora: A circular fashion brand turning textile waste into regenerated material

The Regenerative Flea Market is free and open to the public. Whether you’re a sustainability enthusiast, an artist, a fashion lover, or someone curious about making more eco-conscious choices, there’s something for everyone.

Event Details:
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Time: All Day
Location: Unidad Park and Community Garden, Los Angeles, CA