Let’s be honest, shopping for clothes can be expensive, especially when the chilly winter season is upon us. Fan favourite stores like Aritzia, H&M or Uniqlo usually have seasonal sales or discounts on selected items, yes, but lately, the sales still end up leaving a dent in my savings account bank.

Well, students from the Humber Fashion Arts and Business Program had the perfect solution for it, an Eco Closet event – a sustainable marketplace, where recycled clothing was available on sale and all the proceeds went to charity.

Bazaar in Bloom

On Nov. 30, students gathered in the E-Concourse, North campus for Humber’s very own Bazaar in Bloom event. This Eco Closet had everything a student might need, from unique pieces to accessories and so much more!

It addition to all the great pieces, stylists were at the event helping with styling tips and tricks. Students could essentially create outfits with the clothes they purchased right at the event. Students also received a FREE sewing kit from IGNITE which would come in handy for mending their clothes in the future.

Shirts, T-shirts, Blazers and moreeee

Whether you were going for a formal look or a casual outfit, the Eco Closet had students covered with countless options. Featuring blazers, trench coats, jeans and sweaters, this event had everything a student could possibly need. It was Humber’s thrifting event for the season.

But what surprised us was the affordability (I mean in this economy, prices at local thrift stores will have you thinking about your purchases twice.) So imagine buying a blazer for only $15. Yes – that’s right, most items retailed from $5 to $40, a perrrfect steal.

Not to mention, the music and ambience made it the perfect shopping experience.

The clothes were gently worn and preowned- but they looked pretty new. While I was busy looking through the racks, I noticed fitting rooms (this event just got SOOOO much better!). Students could try on different outfits and decide right then and there.

Accessories Galore

In addition to the recycled clothing donated by students, small vendors were also in attendance. They sold different items at affordable prices. Some items included:

• sneakers and graphic tees
• pouches
• tote bags (you can never have too many totes)
• key chains
• claw clips

Even if you weren’t interested in buying any clothes, you could find the perfect accessories!

People at the event!

Meet Hensei Patel.

During the event, we interviewed one of our student shoppers to hear about their experience. She was impressed by this sustainable initiative where students could buy clothes at such reasonable prices.

For her, finding the perfect blazer and hoodie was on her wish list. And she was able to find some stunning pieces!

Final thoughts

Overall, it was an amazing experience. The students-in-charge transformed the E-Concourse into the perfect thrift store for students to visit. Not only were the prices affordable, but the options available made it so much easier and fun for students to find something they love.

It was obvious that students were impressed by the amazing deals and quality making it a jam-packed event in no time!

Additionally, all of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Youth Without Shelter, a charity supporting youth facing homelessness in the GTA.

If you were unable to attend this sustainable marketplace, don’t worry! Make sure to follow our Instagram and TikTok @shreignite where we post about all things student life!

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