Second Hand Slays

March 12, 2024

For the second year in a row we hosted Second Hand Slays at Cal State East Bay! This successful event was a collaboration between the Associated Students Incorporated, Helping Our Pioneers Excel, and TAGS to promote second hand resources in the bay area. We were able to give out free clothing from the HOPE closet, whose mission is to prepare students for success through free clothing. We had so much fun with the DJ, listening to hit music while playing cornhole and educating young adults on sustainable practices. In addition, Stacee coordinated the completely second hand fashion show! Models strutted down the University Union walkway in sustainable fashion while inspiring students to express their creativity in eco-friendly ways.

Crochet Workshop Featuring Kaia

January 27, 2024

For our first workshop of the new year, we invited Kaia to come in and teach crocheting! She had an awesome turnout with a completely full house for both sections of the workshop. We are ambitious and excited to host another one soon! Attendees were guided in single/double slip stiches and other crochet techniques. We want to thank our community once again for the donations of yarn used in this project! It is thanks to constant support from our donors that we continue hosting free events like these for teens!

TAGS Holiday Party

December 10, 2023

For the third year in a row, Lynn hosted a holiday party filled with love and cheer from the whole TAGS crew. This special tradition is meaningful to us because everyone comes together - makers, volunteers, committee and board members, staff, sellers, and loved ones all under the same roof. Everyone brought dishes to share as well, including lasagna, stuffed mushrooms, homemade pies, and brownies! We participated in a white elephant gift exchange too - some people got a bit feisty with their steals! Then, some people divided into two teams to create the coolest gingerbread houses known to humankind! One features a TAGS logo on the roof, and the other is covered top to bottom in gingerbread and candy cane sprinkles. The evening was so much fun, everyone’s faces were bright with gratitude and joy. We thank everyone who has been a part of sustaining our mission here at TAGS. Happy Holidays!

San Leandro Artisan Market

November 12, 2023

TAGS had such a fun time with our makers, friends, and community members at the Downtown San Leandro Artisan Market! We listened to live music, browsed other small businesses, and made meaningful connections all throughout the afternoon. Our sellers had their accessories and unique clothes displayed in a cute arrangement. Our TAGS team had a blast representing our creative, reuse non profit!

Birthday Party - Jewelry Workshop

November 11, 2023

TAGS hosted its first Birthday Party Workshop and it was so much fun! Mia and her friends took over the workspace with their innovative necklaces and unique jewelry pieces. It was an amazing environment to celebrate and have a great time. We look forward to seeing these awesome teens again sometime soon!

If you or someone you know are interested in having TAGS host an event, please reach out! We are excited to host future events in our beautiful workspace!

Halloween Costume Contest

October 28, 2023

TAGS held their first ever Halloween costume contest! Each contestant held up their numbers and danced the Time Warp in celebration of the Halloween spirit! Our top three costumes were Aziraphale from Good Omens, a surgery patient, and Chef Hatchet from Total Drama Island. These winners each went home with TAGS gift cards and mystery bags! We had a blast giving out candy, playing games, and singing to our favorite spooky tunes. Thank you to all who came out to support!

Second Hand Slays

October 3, 2023

Hailey and Stacee collaborated with Cal State East Bay’s ASI and student wellness services. Hailey serves as the ASI Director of Sustainability and planned an event to showcase second hand resources in the Bay Area. We gave out clothes through wellness department, played cornhole, and watched the beautiful fashion show that Stacee coordinated! The volunteer models posed in sustainable clothing - most of which were styled by Stacee! This event was so much fun, and we cannot wait to host another Second Hand Slays next spring!

Denim Tote Upcycling Workshop

September 30, 2023

TAGS hosted a free denim tote upcycling workshop with Elisa on September 30th! Participants took old denim pieces and breathed new life into them as unique tote bags. Individuals used sewing machines, needles and thread, lace, and other fabric scraps to create upcycled bags. Here are some photos of our final products! Can't wait to see everyone at our next free upcycling workshop!

Rock The Block

September 9, 2023

This was our second year participating in the Boys and Girls Club's annual Rock The Block event and we had so much fun! TAGS had a DIY tote bag workshop set up in the teen center managed by Elisa, Hailey, and Lisa. This unique craft offered various levels of difficulty, including both sew and no-sew aspects. We were astonished by the amount of creativity these lovely people had! It was shockingly simple to repurpose a t-shirt into a tote bag, and we can't wait to do it again! Thank you to the Boys and Girls Club for having us!

TAGS 2 Year Anniversary / Bryan's Farewell

September 2, 2023

This event was full of many emotions - happiness, grief, pride, and love are among a few. Kathryn invited the TAGS team to her home to celebrate the two year anniversary of our store opening, as well as say goodbye to Bryan. We had a lovely time enjoying dinner together, all telling stories of our favorite TAGS moments together. We are wishing Bryan well as he attends Savannah College of Art and Design. This night reminded us of how far TAGS has come over the last two years, and the impact we have made on this community. We give a generous thanks to everyone who helped us get this far, and a beautiful welcome to many more amazing memories.

Bryan Mendez's Art Show

August 6, 2023

In early August, TAGS collaborated with nearly a dozen San Leandro businesses to put on a free art show! Bryan showcased 50 pieces of his astonishing work, ranging from mythical clay sculptures to paintings with rich, significant cultural value. Over a hundred members of our community joined us in eating delicious pastries, enjoying live music and poetry from KayK, and overall having a beautiful night. Mayor Gonzalez also made an appearance and purchased a piece to hang in his office. We are so happy with how the event turned out, and so proud of everyone involved!

Boys and Girls Club Tour

Last Wednesday, the 19th a few members of the Boys and Girls club came in to our store for their Fashion Week and were given a tour of our store by our shift lead Stacee. During the tour Stacee led them through our Makers Market, workshop space, rotating artwork space

July 19, 2023

Graphic Tee Revamp Workshop

On Saturday July 15th TAGS held a Graphic Tee Revamp workshop led by Elisa Ramos. Elisa guided participants while cutting and sewing. We loved seeing what they started and ended up with. It was nice seeing friends and strangers come together to repurpose clothes.

July 15, 2023

Kindness Award

July 10, 2023

On Monday night, July 10 Lynn was recognized by Mayor Juan Gonzales with an Award for Kindness in City Hall. Friends and family accompanied her as she gave a speech thanking Mayor Gonzales and spreading the message of our mission here in Tags. We are so proud of you Lynn and so appreciative of what you do to help teens, young adults, and the community!

Y2K Tee Workshop

JUNE 24, 2023

TAGS hosted a popular and unique workshop! Stacee guided attendees as they ironed on transfers to t-shirts. We had so much fun seeing the creativity blossom in our work space! Some of our favorite designs include "LEO RISING", "GIRLBOSS", and "SJSU"! It was beautiful to witness everyone coming together and sharing their art with each other! Thank you to our donors that help keep workshops like these free for youth.

Second SOLA Fundraiser

JUNE 6, 2023

Sons of Liberty Alehouse hosted yet another fundraiser for TAGS! 20% of the day's sale goes towards our nonprofit and helps to fund our teen programs.

The whole community came together again for delicious food and drinks, while supporting our small business. Such a great turn out and we are always so appreciate for SOLA's help! Can't wait for our next fundraiser.

TAGS Photo Shoot

MAY 26, 2023

Stacee put together a TAGS photoshoot where community models showed off TAGS merchandise. Many of these items are still for sale! Stacee shot these photos within a 500 foot radius of our store. She wanted to make sure all the models were comfortable and represented an array of feminine and masculine styled clothing, as well as making this a fun and exciting experience!

Small Business Proclamation

MAY 5, 2023

The city of San Leandro and the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce recognized TAGS as a small business in May of 2023. Lynn happily accepted the award in City Hall surrounded with love from the TAGS board, committee, and mayor Gonzalez. It is an honor to be recognized by the city for the effort we have put into making our community a creative, greener space.

Earth Day Maker's Event

APRIL 21, 2023

TAGS participated in San Leandro High School's Earth Day Maker's Event. At this event, local businesses came together to enjoy music, thrifting, and a sustainable fashion show! Lynn, Sam and Hailey represented TAGS and spoke with SLHS students about sustainability, fast fashion, and mindful consumerism.

UC Berkeley SSAB Night Market

APRIL 10, 2023

TAGS just had an awesome opportunity to be apart of UC Berkeley’s SSAB Night Market.

This was such a great experience for us to introduce our small business to others and also connect with other creative artists and businesses!

Drake's First Friday Fundraiser

APRIL 7, 2023

We joined Drake’s Brewing for their First Friday charitable block party on April 7th! This event was from 5PM and 9PM at Drake’s San Leandro Barrel House with tons of drinks, food, live music, and cornhole! Thank you to everyone who came and supported TAGS by purchasing a growler or crowler during the event, or anytime during the month of April. We appreciate you all!

Denim Painting Workshop

MARCH 2023

TAGS hosted a successful denim painting workshop led by Brooke. We had an enthusiastic group of young adults join us and share their creative sides. They used funky stamps, free hand designs, and fabric painting techniques.

Valentines Sewing Workshop

FEBRUARY 2023

Brooke led another awesome sewing workshop where she taught participants sewing techniques and how to actually use a sewing machine and other materials. This was a "Valentine's" themed sewing workshop and participants created adorable, heart-shaped plushies!

Jewelry Making Open Studio

JANUARY 2023

TAGS hosted yet another jewelry making open studio after having our first successful Open Studio back in August. Participants got creative and made all types of jewelry pieces while enjoying snacks and hot chocolate.

Holiday Card Making Open Studio

DECEMBER 2022

To celebrate the season, TAGS hosted a Holiday card making open studio. There were no instructors and participants were able to create their own greeting cards with materials provided. To stay warm, we also offered hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.

TAGS Holiday Party

DECEMBER 2022

Tis the season! The TAGS team celebrated our annual Holiday party! This was a great way for our team to spend some time together and create more wonderful memories. Gingerbread houses were made and gifts were exchanged. Spending this time outside of our normal workspace allowed us to truly connect with one another. As a team, we wish you happy holidays and encourage you to spend time with your family and friends during this season.

Fall Flips Workshop

NOVEMBER 2022

Fashion design major Brooke Adams led yet another sewing workshop here on November 19th. She taught the basics of sewing as well as how to use a sewing machine. Brooke taught participants how to upcycle reused items. Eventually, the participants were able to design and upcycle their own t-shirts, sweaters or any other preferable clothing piece they brought or bought from the store.

Spooky Craft Workshops

OCTOBER 2022

Fashion design major Brooke Adams led a Halloween-themed tote bag-making workshop Oct. 8, where participants got to pick out their fabric of choice and sew open-topped bags for themselves or loved ones. A couple weekends later, TAGS employees Bryan and Sam guided a jack-o-lantern making class where attendees got to carve faces or messages into pumpkins on Oct. 29.

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Open Studio

AUGUST 2022

TAGS hosted its first ever Open Studio event. Participants had the opportunity to use our materials and workspace to create however they wanted. This was not a guided workshop so youth could freely create their own artistic pieces. We provided bracelet making materials and assistance if they needed any. But the art was all their own. We had an absolutely amazing turn out and had a great time! Stay tuned for more Open Studio Events coming very soon!

San Leandro
Makers Market

SEPTEMBER 2022

TAGS participated in ReDiscover Downtown’s Makers Market Sept. 17, where local businesses and creatives united and connected with event attendees. Our booth highlighted some of our hottest fits along with the incredible artwork created by local artists Bryan and Brooke. TAGS is extremely thankful to the Downtown San Leandro Community Benefit District for this opportunity to connect with more members of our community!

End of Summer Sale

AUGUST 2022

As we neared the end of the summer, TAGS had its biggest sale yet. 25% off of EVERYTHING in the store. We have so much awesome fall inventory, that we needed to clear room. This sale lasted from Aug 10th through the 14th. The community gained awesome clothes at incredible deals!

Boys & Girls Club - Rock the Block Event

AUGUST 2022

San Leandro's Boys & Girls Club celebrated the remodeling of their aquatics center with a community event. TAGS was invited to set up a booth and provide a workshop style activity for the event. We did one of our favorites, t-shirt painting. This event was so successful we actually ran out of shirts! TAGS is so happy to be a part of this community and we are looking forward to next year!

Patches and Pockets Sewing Workshop

JULY 2022

Brooke again came with her amazing self and hosting yet another amazing workshop. The skill of sewing patches and pockets onto your clothes! Participants customized their outfits with cool patches and fabric designs. Brooke assisted people with the sewing machines and helped them perfect their sewing skills.

Tote Bag Sewing Workshop

JUNE 2022

We had our wonderful local artist Brooke come in and host another sewing workshop! She shared her art of creating custom tote bags. This was one of our longer workshops, young adults got to follow the making process from start to finish.

In the end participants got to walk away with their own custom bag! Thank you Brooke for sharing your art!

TAGS Celebrates 1 Year at El Torito

AUGUST 2022

TAGS celebrated their one-year anniversary at El Torito! It is a blessing to be able to have celebrated with our entire team and look back on all the accomplishments we made this past year serving our community.

SOLA Fundraiser Event

JUNE 7th 2022

Sons of Liberty Alehouse hosted a fundraiser for us on June 7th, 2022. 20% of all of proceeds from that day went to TAGS programs! The community got to come in, enjoy great food and drinks and help out this local nonprofit.

A big shout out to Teresa Lawrie at Sons of Liberty Alehouse for hosting a fundraiser for TAGS. It was a super fun event and a huge success - we raised $2,420!

Shirt Painting Workshop

MAY 2022

By popular demand, we brought another painting workshop to our community. Here, teens and young adults had total freedom to create their desired painted shirt. Some popular paintings were of colorful album covers, nature, and self-love visuals. Participants were given access to various painting tools, techniques, and stencils.

This workshop was led by Bryan, a local high school student.

Denim Painting Workshops

MARCH 2022

This month, teens and young adults filled our workspace up to capacity to paint their ideas on denim and did an AMAZING job doing so! These participants had their own unique style, painting on both denim jackets and jeans and used a variety of techniques to do so.

This workshop was led by Amy Chovnick, a local San Leandro creative.

Crystal Wrapping Workshops

APRIL 2022

This workshop was the first student-led workshop with Bryan! Because of his personal interests and taking the December Crystal Workshop, he wanted to share and teach his intricate crystal wrapping designs with others! We had an amazing turnout! Each teen/young adult showed their uniqueness and patience through this detailed workshop.

Crystal Workshops

DECEMBER 2021

Because of the popularity of crystals, we decided to hold a crystal-focused workshop. Teens and young adults were taught intricate wrapping techniques to wrap crystals and transform them to necklaces.

This workshop was led by Kaitlin Howell, a very talented local Bay Area artist.

*Sponsored by the City of San Leandro Climate Resiliency Fund

Stamping and Pin Making Workshops

NOVEMBER 2021

In the first week of this workshop, teens and young adults were able to decorate clothing and accessories items with stamps and paint.

In the second week of this workshop, local teens and young adults put their creative and technical skills to the test while designing and assembling pins.

Both workshops were led by Kaitlin Howell, a very talented local Bay Area artist.