By: Angela Mennecke
In addition to the love of all things fashion, College of DuPage Fashion Club students have a shared passion for clothing sustainability and ending the newest phenomenon of fast-fashion that has taken Americans by storm.
“It’s all about changing your mindset on how you consume products,” said Fashion Studies student and club member Rahaf Damra. “People value convenience but don’t often stop and think about why their clothes are so cheap. They’re cheap because they’re made in countries with lax labor laws who treat their workers unethically.”
Wanting to spread awareness about the value of repurposing clothes, Damra, along with club members Enrique Sahagun, Winnie Godinez, Deena Greenwald and Noah Carter will host a clothing swap for students, staff, faculty and community members from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in SRC 1008, on the College’s Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.
We wanted to get the word out to COD and to the community that it’s possible to live more sustainably without breaking the bank or completely overhauling your habits.
Enrique Sahagun, COD Fashion Studies Student
“We collectively wanted to get the word out to COD and to the community that it’s possible to live more sustainably without breaking the bank or completely overhauling your habits,” said Sahagun. “It’s little changes and a shift in mindset that can make a huge difference.”
Club members have placed designated bins across main campus where used clothing can be donated until Tuesday, April 11. All clothes must be in good, ready-to-wear condition. For those who make a donation, a voucher will be provided for the clothing swap, where they can then pick out a newly thrifted piece of clothing.
“We also plan to have informational cards that people can take with them that explains how different fabrics should be taken care of and how to extend the lifespan of an article of clothing,” Greenwald said. “Many clothing donations end up in landfills. By keeping your clothes longer and eventually repurposing them, it can really help stop the overcrowding of landfills that is destroying communities.”
Below, COD Fashion Club members (from left) Deena Greenwald, Rahaf Damra, Winnie Godinez and Enrique Sahagun share practical ways to embrace a more sustainable wardrobe.