The Sustainable Fashion Club is one of the new opportunities the Schoolcraft campus offers to students who want to make an impact within the community. 

The club provides a platform for students to learn more about their personal relationship with the environment through their fashion choices. It is meant to be a space in which students can discuss and determine the steps needed to take in order to reduce negative impacts on the planet, especially as the fast fashion industry continues to expand.

The club was founded this year by student Abel Thompson, who has a strong passion for fashion and is also dedicated to spreading awareness about environmental issues. 

“I was raised in a house where my mom cared so deeply about the environment. We always grew up thrifting instead of buying new clothes,” he said. “As I got older, I started to realize not everyone views the world in that way, and that’s something I felt I could share with other people,” he continued.

Thompson decided establishing a Sustainable Fashion Club was not only a way to combine the two passions but also a place for the community to further access education and engage in diverse conversations. 

“Hopefully, [students will] take it past the club and continue using [a] sustainable mindset while making their clothing choices, especially at the age college students are, there’s a lot of experimentation with style,” he said.

At the Sustainable Fashion Club, members are able to participate in a variety of activities. Notably, the club has discussion days in which students are able to talk about their unique experiences with fashion and the environment. Other meetings involve upcycling days where members are able to transform old pieces of clothing into something that may better suit their style and comfort. Additionally, thrifting is also a focal point of the club.

The club has also planned various events for students to attend such as organizing a campus wide clothing swap event. People will be able to bring in old items of clothing as well as take others home.

Throughout the semester, students will be able to participate in field trips to hone sustainable skills and learn more about the relationship between fashion and the environment. 

Thompson hopes for the club to be “a safe place to express yourself and learn about your impact on the world.” It is an opportunity to meet  more sustainable individuals and further develop personal fashion. 

Meetings take place on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Lower Level, Vistatech Center, Conference Room E. 

To join or learn more about the club, contact the Student Activities Office at 734-462-4422.