How to Shop the Sustainable Fashion Fair @ ChathamU
The arrival of spring on campus means that everyone is craving a refresh around this time of year. But before you go buying a whole new wardrobe, be sure to stop by Chatham Student Power’ and Chatham A La Mode’s Sustainable Fashion Fair in Mellon Board Room and the Carriage House on March 24th from 4-7pm.
Not only will you find amazing pieces for a dollar per item, you’ll also be breaking the cycle of fast fashion and giving new life to clothes that otherwise might end up in a landfill. We chatted with CSP co-presidents Will Grasso and Aidan Bobik on the fashion fair’s origins, impact, and get some tips on how to shop it successfully!
Donation drop-offs this week:
Wednesday: 11am - 2pm, JKM Library Entrance; 4-5pm, Dean’s Hour in the Carriage House
Thursday: 12 - 4pm, Carriage House
Friday: DEI Engagement Fair 11am - 1pm, Carriage House
If you’re a big-time procrastinator but you’d still like to give your items a new life, you can also donate clothes at the actual fair, but you will not receive credits.
First things first, if you have a pile of clothes cluttering up your closet that you’re totally sick of, it’s not too late to donate them to the fair! As Will Grasso explains, “If you drop off clothes prior to the fair, you will get credits that go towards the clothes you buy at the fair. So, if you donate 1 item, you will get 1 item free at the fair. You can get up to 10 credits through donating, but we encourage everyone to donate as much as they can/would like!”
On offer at the Sustainable Fashion Fair are gently used clothing items, accessories, and books, all sold for $1 or one donation credit in the form of Venmo or cash. Student artist vendors will also be selling their wares out of the Carriage House 24-hour lounge, everything from zines to art to crochet works and more. As Aidan Bobick said, “It’s a mix of everything, and there’s something for everyone.”
The format of the fair will be similar to last year’s, with the biggest difference being that the student artist vendors will be in the Carriage House as even more space was needed to house and shop the donated clothing.
“Sustainable Fashion Fair is one of the biggest student organization events—frankly, in my mind, it’s becoming a Chatham tradition! We’re incredibly excited to help it continue, and we can’t wait to see folks there!”
This week’s Sustainable Fashion Fair will be the fourth event since its start in 2020, when students swapped and mended clothes in the Carriage House to participate in slow fashion. “Each year since then, the fair has looked a little different but the core elements and goals have stayed the same,” says Grasso. “We started hosting artist and student org vendors to get the community more involved, and eventually moved our location to the Mellon Board Room to house the growing number of donations we receive.”
So what are some tips to shop successfully at this year’s fashion fair?
BYOB: Bring your own bag!
Donations to a past Sustainable Fashion Fair
Chatham students are most likely used to saying “no thanks” to plastic bags in stores, but make sure you bring your own bag or bags to the Sustainable Fashion Fair. If you want to get really reduce-reuse-recycle about it, you can DIY your own tote out of an old pillow case. And in a pinch, you can always fold or tie up smaller items inside a coat or sweater!
Have cash on hand and your Venmo at the ready
In general, cash is king when shopping at farmers markets, swap meets, flea markets, or any place with multiple vendors. It’s easy to see exactly how much you have to spend (or have already spent); accepted pretty much everywhere, and doesn’t come with fees that can often be crippling for small business owners. Venmo is often a good alternative to cash in case you didn’t hit the ATM. The Sustainable Fashion Fair is no exception: both cash and Venmo will be accepted. Speak to individual student artist vendors and ask what their payment preference is.
Thrifting is more fun with friends
The writer of this post is a veteran thrifter and clothing swapper, and my biggest pro tip is this: take trusted friends along with you, and ask them to keep their eyes peeled for things that seem like your style. Not only will you get the occasional funny “Oh, you think I’d wear that?” misunderstanding; you’ll increase your chances of finding something really special when others are also on the lookout for you. This is also great for people who hate shopping for themselves but love to give gifts to others— at the end of your shopping time, meet up and hand over the scores you’ve found for your friends, and they’ll do the same for you.
Will Grasso suggests: “[Student organization] Á La Mode has had a few group thrifting events and I think that's a great way to get more people involved in thrifting. Bring friends to the fair, or just when you go thrifting in general; they might help you find your new favorite garment!”
Think Strategically and Sustainably
“I try to be particular with my shopping and thrifting, and only purchase things that I know I will wear and that feel like they will serve me well.,” says Grasso. “When shopping, think about what outfits you want to make, what items are missing from your wardrobe, and even what you can donate to make room for more clothes!” Grasso also notes that sustainable shopping puts an emphasis on critiquing where clothes come from. “Shopping sustainably is all about slowing down and thinking critically about the process of how clothes are made. Abigail Hakas’ article in the Communiqué about Shein and the fast fashion industry has some great information about the reality of this incredibly wasteful industry.”
If you have any questions about the Sustainable Fashion Fair, don’t hesitate to reach out to @CHATHAMCSP on Instagram or email aidan.bobik@chatham.edu. Interested in getting involved with more thoughtful and impactful campus events? In Bobik’s words: “Chatham Student Power is an important and flexible student organization. We like to say that the members run our club. Whatever issues and work students are interested in— that’s what we do. If anyone is interested in joining, becoming involved, or wants more information, please DM us on Instagram at CHATHAMCSP or email aidan.bobik@chatham.edu.”
We hope to see you at the Sustainable Fashion Fair on March 24th from 4-7pm in Mellon Board Room and the Carriage House!
Sarah C. Hamm is the Associate Director of Brand and Content Strategy at Chatham University, guiding Chatham’s social media and digital editorial strategy for Pulse@ChathamU. An alumna of Chatham’s MFA Creative Writing Program, her creative work has been published in The Fourth River, Coal Hill Review, and IDK Magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s podcasting, baking, hiking, or enjoying Pittsburgh’s food scene.
