Giving Hundreds of Costumes a Second Life
This week, we teamed up with our friends at No More Liddering to make Halloween a little greener, all starting with the simple idea of costume sharing. On October 12, we co-hosted a Community Costume Swap at Stitched Gifts in Marietta—and the impact was more than we could have imagined.
Thanks to the generosity of local schools, businesses, and churches, we collected over 400 costumes and 300 accessories, all donated by people who believe in giving things a second life. Families came from all over metro Atlanta to browse through pirate hats, fairy wings, superhero suits, and wizard robes, many walking out with full costumes for just a $5-$10 donation. It was a fundraiser, a reuse initiative, and a celebration of community all wrapped into one.
Our interns from Wheeler High School and Pope High School brought an extra dose of fun. They created handmade signs, dressed up in donated costumes, and waved in guests from the sidewalk with contagious energy and big smiles. It was one of those moments that reminded us that sustainability doesn’t have to be serious, it can be playful, colorful, and filled with joy.
And the environmental impact? Powerful.
Reusing even a single costume avoids the production of synthetic materials, carbon emissions from manufacturing and shipping, and the chemical-heavy dyeing process that consumes enormous amounts of water. By swapping 400 costumes, our community helped prevent an estimated 6,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent, saved hundreds of gallons of water, and kept textiles, many made from plastic-based fibers, out of landfills where they can take decades to break down.
We donated boxes of costumes from the collection to Fair Oaks Elementary and other local nonprofits, ensuring that families in need still have access to Halloween festivities.
To everyone who donated, hosted a bin, helped spread the word, or showed up to swap thank you. This event reminded us that building a more sustainable future can start with something as simple as a shared costume.
