A fashion sale was held at North Campus as part of a collaboration between Humber Polytechnic’s sustainability office and business students.
ECOCloset was held on Nov. 19, offering different options of used clothes and accessories at affordable prices.
Massage Therapy program student Emily Ferreira said she was just walking around campus when she saw this event down in the E-concourse.
“I just happened to find these amazing pants,” Ferreira said. “I think it's a pretty good way to get the community together in the school and kind of like talking to them as you’re shopping.”
Mary Jane Fendi, a first-year Media Communication student, said she got a knit sweater for Christmas for just $6.
As someone who loves thrifting, Fendi said she “can find good brands” with cheaper prices.
Organizers collected items from the donation boxes that had been placed around the North campus, encouraging students to donate their used clothes and accessories.
Rachel Paiva, a Fashion Business student who helped organize the event, said it’s hard to find cheap clothes in thrift stores now because the prices are rising significantly.
“The people looking for cheap clothes are not getting the prices they want there, so we’re hoping that this gives the space for especially college students, young parents to come and get cheaper options for clothes,” Paiva said.
Sustainability manager Sandra Leutri said this event builds community around fashion and sustainability and promotes reuse, thrifting and environmentalism.
“Just for people to kind of understand that going through clothes as quickly as we typically do, it’s not great for the environment,” she said. “Fast fashion, it’s very detrimental to the environment.”
Leutri said Humber launched its sustainability strategic vision this year.
“If you look at the website, you’ll be able to see it’s built on three pillars of education, enabling, and engaging,” she said.
Leutri said it’s all about providing sustainable education widely accessible online to everybody, while enabling a sustainable campus experience for students, staff, and faculty.
She wants people to understand that the buildings they are in are eco-friendly and efficient, and to make sure that people are surrounded by environmentalism.
“Last one is all about providing opportunities for people to have hands-on experience engaging with sustainability. So that’s kind of the vision,” Leutri said.
A statement from Humber’s annual sustainability 2023-24 report said they gave a presentation to Fashion Arts and Business students in 2023, explaining sustainability topics as they relate to the fashion industry.
The students then incorporated what they learned from the presentation into the ECO Closet event.
Leutri said that “in the past, money that’s been collected has been donated back to Humber for the food security fund.”
Paiva said the money raised from the sale this year will go towards Youth Without Shelter.
“All donations are going to help them,” she said.
