Story by ADIA REYNOLDS Photos by ASHER JOHNSON
Tiger Media Network
The Student Government Association partnered with Tailored for Tigers on Tuesday to host a “clothing swap” as one of the many events on campus celebrating Green Week. The clothing swap took place in front of the student union, where anyone walking by could browse their wide selection of clothes and learn more about the green values of reusability and upcycling.
Lunchtime brought students drifting in and out in natural waves, where they would browse and discuss the wide stock available with friends. On the table, one could find shirt and pants options, while the rack included button-down shirts, blouses, and dresses that ranged from casual wear to sophisticated and chic.
The higher-end donations were provided by Tailored for Tigers. In partnering with Tailored for Tigers, students were also introduced to a free service offered on campus for anyone in need of free, high-quality business casual or business formal attire.
“[Tailor For Tigers] gets on-campus students some great professional development and sets them up for success,” said Tailored for Tigers employee Jadynn Doyle.
The Clothing Swap provided an easy-access introduction to students who were previously unaware of this service or those simply in need of nicer attire.
Green Week is a campus-wide event that aims to promote awareness of ways in which everyone can contribute to communal and personal sustainability. According to earth.org, the fast fashion industry and a general lack of knowledgeability on sustainable practices contributes to almost 100 tons of annual textile waste on a global scale. This equates to about 220,462 lbs of materials that are still completely usable, thrown into landfills simply because the previous owner threw them away instead of donating or upcycling them.
But what is upcycling? The practice is known for the reuse of discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. Almost everyone is aware of the token phrase, ‘reduce, reuse, recycle.’ Upcycling is a creative spin that was first coined in the 80s and 90s and has experienced a resurgence in popularity as younger people take up the call for a more sustainable future.
Student Body President Ella Burrows was present at the event and aided in set-up and donation coordination.
“We are trying to think of diverse ways we can be sustainable here at Fort Hays,” Burrows said. “How do we do that? One of the easiest ways to do that is to thrift your clothing. It aids in preventing overconsumption and helps the planet.”
Selection varied throughout the day as students either donated or took home new staple pieces that can now be spotted mixed into the closets and outfits around campus. In promoting upcycling in a public event such as this, the FHSU Student Government Association hoped to remind the campus community that sustainability can be as simple as the clothes on our backs.
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