Westfield Garden State Plaza is bringing together stores, partner brands and other stakeholders to showcase positive steps the retail industry has taken to become more sustainable.

Scheduled for May 11 at the busy Paramus shopping mall, the Westfield Good Festival aims to inspire and support consumers who want to live more sustainably and give back to their communities.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Level 1 near Pandora. It is is free to attend with the donation of a pair of jeans. Anyone who RSVPs ahead of the festival will receive an exclusive 20% off discount at a new Rothy’s sustainable shoe shop opening in June at the mall.

After debuting last year at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield-owned properties in Europe, the festival is expanding to include company-branded shopping centers in the U.S. It’s also part of the firm’s larger roadmap to support the sustainable evolution of retail and environmental transition of cities.

Plenty to do

Westfield Garden State Plaza has multiple activations planned, such as a display featuring sustainable pieces designed by students enrolled in Berkeley College’s fashion merchandising & management program.

The day will also include an educational panel hosted by Andrea Kennedy, lead faculty of the fashion merchandising & management program at the college’s school of business. Students studying sustainable fashion will join Kennedy for insights on stitching a sustainable tomorrow.

“Our Berkeley College students are excited to be part of the environmentally responsible future of fashion,” said Kennedy. “These students are sustainable thinkers who want to enter the fashion industry and change fashion practices for the better. The Westfield Good Festival experience is about merging higher education, industry processes, and students’ innovative ideas and authentic storytelling for sustainability.”

A denim revival

Anyone who donates a pair of old jeans to the Blue Jeans Go Green program can have a second pair of denim transformed into a one-of-a-kind wearable masterpiece by artist Nick Sizemore and fashion designer Darcy Barber of Craft Night NYC.

Guests can choose from multiple design details to individualize their jeans for free and then pick them up May 18 at the mall.

Barber, Craft Night NYC’s co-founder, commented, “One of the most important missions for Craft Night NYC is to promote environmental consciousness through the art of repurposing materials and having a blast doing it. We are excited to inspire guests of The Westfield Good Festival to think before they toss because crafting together, we can create beautiful and unique pieces that extend the life of existing apparel while reducing waste.”

Sustainability Spotlight

Attendees can discover a range of sustainable and eco-friendly products and practices at Westfield Garden State Plaza. Shops include Rothy’s, Sephora, Fabletics, L’Occitane, Kiehl’s, Nespresso, Madewell, Tory Burch, Arc’teryxc, Allbirds, Coach, Aveda and Blue Nile.

Additionally, guests who spend $50 or more across Sustainability Spotlight shops will receive a free herb plant while supplies last.

Other fun

Kids are invited to participate in a community art project consisting of a mosaic made from Lego bricks. Guests are encouraged to bring their own gently used Legos to donate to Lego’s Replay program, as well as the art piece itself.

Various performers will also hit the stage throughout the day, including American Idol finalist Sam Woolf, American kindie rock band Rolie Polie Guacamole and musical duo Emtee.

Wesley Rebisz, senior general manager of Westfield Garden State Plaza, said, “The Westfield Good Festival was created to inspire individuals while mobilizing communities to engage in sustainability efforts.”

“Through a variety of actionable and immersive experiences, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from well-known retailers and beloved brands about the positive steps they are making in the environmental transition to create a better planet for future generations. We are delighted to launch an event that will be a catalyst for positive change,” he said.