BirdieBlue has officially teamed up with Stio and Geartrade, and the result? A bold, joyful, totally upcycled bag collection thatโs giving worn-out gear a vibrant second life. This new limited-edition drop proves that sustainability and style can go hand-in-hand, especially when three eco-minded outdoor brands come together with a shared mission: keep technical gear out of landfills and create something beautiful in the process.
Handcrafted in Vermont by BirdieBlueโs all-women sewing crew, each bag in this capsule is made from well-loved Stio apparel thatโs already lived one adventurous life in the mountains and is ready to take on its next journey. The collection includes three unique pieces: the Carry All ($109), Traveler Bag ($59), and Hip Pack ($59). These arenโt your average bags. Theyโre stitched with purpose, packed with personality, and built to go wherever your daily adventure leads, from the grocery store to the trailhead.
But this collaboration didnโt happen overnight, and the backstory is just as inspiring as the bags themselves. It all started at the SIA Eastern Summit in Vermont, where Geartrade CEO Aaron Provine and BirdieBlue founder Kate Harvey crossed paths during a panel on circularity in the outdoor industry. With Geartrade as Stioโs official secondhand selling partner, they had already been collecting broken and unsellable Stio gear that was beyond repair. The idea? Give it to BirdieBlue and see what kind of upcycling magic could unfold.
So Kate headed to Geartrade HQ in Salt Lake City, where she met the team and inspected three massive pallets of worn-out Stio gear โ the kind of gear most brands would send straight to the landfill. But not this time. That gear made its way to BirdieBlueโs studio in Vermont, where it was sorted, deconstructed, and lovingly reimagined into a collection of one-of-a-kind bags. Each bag is stitched with intention and full of soul, crafted from materials that have already lived a life of adventure.
And then Stio wanted in.
Once the team at Stio saw the prototypes, they immediately understood the impact (and style!) this upcycling project could deliver. What started as a small circular experiment quickly evolved into a full-fledged collaboration. Stio stepped up to feature the limited-edition bags in their Mountain Studioยฎ retail locations across the country, giving the collection the spotlight it deserved and bringing the message of circularity directly to outdoor-loving communities nationwide.
This partnership is a real-world example of how the outdoor industry can reduce waste, embrace creativity, and build sustainability into every step of the gear journey. It begins with Stioโs commitment to high-quality apparel that lasts. It continues with Geartradeโs re-commerce platform that helps gear get reused, resold, and recirculated. And it comes full circle with BirdieBlue, where that same gear is upcycled into something beautiful and functional when it's truly at the end of the line.
This is more than just a product drop. Itโs a call to rethink how we consume and how brands can work together to make change. Itโs a celebration of collaboration, community, and creativity. And yes, the bags are really, really cute too.
Ready to check them out in person? These limited-edition bags are available exclusively at select Stio Mountain Studioยฎ retail locations. You can find the full list of stores and shop the collection right here. Whether you're a longtime BirdieBlue fan or just discovering us through this collab, we invite you to join the adventure and the movement by carrying a bag with a story.
Want to stay in the loop on future drops, behind-the-scenes peeks, and upcycling inspo? Sign up for our email list and follow us on Instagram at @shopbirdieblue. Weโre building something bigger than bags, and weโd love to have you along for the ride.