At Activate 2025, sustainability wasn’t just a theme, it was something you could see, feel and even wear. One of the most talked-about activations at the event was the Style & Recycle: Business Attire Swap, hosted by Visit Tampa Bay.
The concept was simple: bring a gently loved (or even new-with-tags) piece of business attire you no longer wear and swap it for something new-to-you. Attendees packed with purpose, and the swap quickly became a hub of energy, connection and style.
Visit Tampa Bay set the stage with clothing racks, matching hangers, sustainable shopping bags and a starter collection of donated items. The booth itself was built entirely from cardboard, which was produced by GoKarton, featured zero printed materials and included a sustainable water bottle giveaway.
And the response? Incredible.
Attendees showed up with donations — 256 items to be exact — and left with fresh finds for evening events, meetings and beyond. Some even swapped items live, meeting someone new and exchanging pieces on the spot.
At the end of Activate, the remaining 226 items were donated to Family Scholar House, an organization that supports families and youth as they pursue education and career training. A big thank you to the team at Louisville Tourism, who helped us find these organizations and helped make sure the items were delivered after the event.
The Style & Recycle swap was more than just a sustainability initiative, it was a feel-good moment that brought people together, sparked joy and made a real impact. And judging by the buzz, it’s something we’ll be bringing back!
