Thrifted Fashion: university students take part in sustainable clothing swap

As a sustainability officer for the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, Maggie Gilmore is tired of “fast fashion.”

The former university student has worked with UNB Sustainability for a year and was thrilled at the opportunity to assist with its first-ever clothing swap at the Student Union Building on Nov. 22.

“When we buy new clothes, we’re often supporting industries that aren’t fairly paying their employees or [have poor] working conditions,” said Gilmore. “When we buy used clothes, it cuts out the harmful emissions and resources that go into making it and helps divert waste.”

Gilmore said UNB Sustainability organized the event in cooperation with a current student. She said the group enjoys partnering with other students to host events and an event like this is “an excellent way” to promote the idea of being sustainable.

“It’s been great to be able to support someone that’s passionate about slow fashion and sustainable fashion,” she said. 

With winter just around the corner, students from both St. Thomas University and UNB filled the space in the hope of finding a cozy outfit or two. To receive new-to-them clothing, students had to bring any number of items to exchange the night before. Swappers then had the chance to try on their thrifted finds behind curtains set up in the back of the ballroom. Gilmore said over 100 people managed to bring in nearly 800 items.

Recently, “thrifting” has become one of the latest trends for younger generations, especially among university students. With the higher costs of traditional clothing stores, shoppers are redirecting themselves to secondhand goods.

According to the Des Moines Register, thrift shopping is popular due to support from millennials who enjoy helping local businesses and companies.

Clair Sauer, a second-year student at UNB, said she prefers to buy her clothes used and isn’t one to support fast fashion. She describes herself as being a “true thrifter.”

“I love the look,” she said. “I love how, when you go to thrift stores and buy used, you can find little treasures like old trends or like things that might’ve existed in the past that aren’t really reflected in clothing styles today.”

Sauer said she enjoyed the idea that students who wanted to participate didn’t have to pay.

“Most things on campus you have to pay for, and that’s sometimes a problem for students, so I like how it’s more of a ‘drop and swap,’” said Sauer.

“I think thrifting is really valuable.”

Gilmore said if UNB Sustainability can gauge more interest from the student community, she hopes it can host similar events in the future.