Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Otwell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Being a clothing designer that creates patterns in a size range of XS-6X, and lots of custom work, I began to meet more people in the local fat community. I had also been introduced to a few fat-centric markets outside of the Midwest and began to piece these two things together. We have an amazing fat community in Minneapolis, but would it be enough to sustain a market? So, finally in the summer of 2024, I organized a small market in a garden next to a vegan cafe in south Minneapolis with less than 12 vendors. It was an immediate hit! At that event, and the days following, everyone was asking when the next one would take place. Since August 2024, there have been three more Fat Flea markets and they have gotten bigger and bigger each time! The most recent one in June of 2025 was two days, with 60+ vendors each day, a food truck, and a boba tea vendor. It hasn’t even been a year yet, and our Instagram is just shy of 5,000 followers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
All in all, it really has been a smooth road. The community makes it tremendously easy and fulfilling. I don’t think people realize how much work goes into a great event! My studio mate Maxine has taken some of the pressure off of me for these events, which really helps. There are many, many hours spent leading up to each of these events; it really is a labor of love, sweat, and sometimes many tears. I tend to put my all into these events because I love the vendors and our community, and I can get burnt out easily, but when the day of the event comes and I see everyone’s faces, it really makes it all worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Fat Flea?
Fat Flea Mission:
Our market celebrates all bodies with a focus on centering and uplifting fat bodies. We create an inclusive, body-positive space where everyone is welcome to shop, share, and celebrate diverse sizes, styles, and self-expression. By using the word “fat” as a liberating and positive term, we challenge stereotypes and promote self-love in our community.
Fat Flea Values:
1. **Body Positivity**: Celebrating all bodies, with a focus on centering and uplifting fat bodies, and fostering self-love and confidence for everyone. Clothing items are strictly XL+, with an expectation that vendors put priority on 3X and larger.
2. **Inclusivity**: Creating a welcoming space where everyone, regardless of size, race, gender, or ability, feels seen, valued, and respected.
3. **Community**: Building connections and fostering a supportive community that encourages dialogue, collaboration, and shared experiences.
4. **Diversity**: Showcasing a wide range of vendors, products, and perspectives that reflect the richness and variety of all body types and personal styles.
5. **Empowerment**: Empowering individuals to express themselves freely and confidently through accessible fashion, art, and products.
6. **Representation**: Ensuring that the market reflects the full spectrum of bodies and identities, providing visibility and recognition for often-overlooked groups. Priority is placed on vendor applicants identifying as BIPOC.
7. **Happiness**: Embracing fun, creativity, and celebration as central elements of the market experience.
Fat Flea is the only fat-centric market in the Twin Cities, and to my knowledge, the entire state of Minnesota. We are the only regularly occurring fat-centric market in the upper Midwest, so people really do come from all over to attend, and even vend! For the spring market, we had vendors from St. Louis, Iowa, Chicago, northern Wisconsin….really all over. We pride ourselves on being not only fat-centric, but at the core, body positive. Everyone is welcome!
I am starting to organize Fat Flea events outside of markets. There is a Fat Flea pot luck on June 14th that is free to attend and people are welcome to sign up to bring food to share. It is really important for me that Fat Flea is about community more than anything. I really want everyone to be able to get together and not have it center around purchasing of goods. The markets absolutely support artists, but it is also nice to have have the pressure of a transactional relationship. And, during markets, it can get so busy that there really isn’t time to get to know one another, so these Fat Flea meet-ups are really important for the community.
What am I most proud of? The community. They are really are the rock stars and everyone holds space for each other. If you come to a Fat Flea market, you can just feel the energy vibrating all around. I receive so many messages after an event from attendees saying that they finally felt seen, appreciated, etc… I could not do these events without the awesome individuals that make all the cool stuff and all of the people that have spread the word. I just organize – the community has made it what it is.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Fat-centric and body positive markets will only get more popular! They are popping up everywhere and Fat Flea will definitely continue to grow. I have been speaking with fat-centric markets on the west coast about teaming up to create something larger…Shhhhh! It would be amazing to ultimately have a Midwest FatCon with speakers, makers, and businesses that align with the Fat Flea mission and values. How cool would that be?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Fat.flea.mn
