A gradual circulation of scholars browsed donated clothes pieces between categories on the Lehigh College Switch Store and the Lehigh Panhellenic Collaborative Pop-up Retailer. Scholars have been ready to donate and put on clothes pieces within the STEPS lawn.
Lehigh Panhel partnered with Switch Store to host the development. Every of the 8 Panhel sorority chapters donated a field of clothes to put on on the Oct. 26 match.
Scholars have been allowed to put on as much as two clothes each and every. In addition they realized extra concerning the shop’s efforts to struggle speedy type.
Speedy type describes reasonable, trendy, heavily produced clothes that has an affect at the atmosphere. Those clothes draw in customers as a result of they’re reasonably priced and trendy.
The Switch Store is a loose thrift shop that began in 2020. When it first opened, the shop operated only as a pop-up shop for the Lehigh campus. Now, they’ve an everlasting position within the Workplace of Sustainability, the place scholars can donate and purchase garments on this position.
Elen Karagulian, ’24, a member of the Switch Store and Panhel group, mentioned one of the crucial primary causes the organizations got here in combination for this match used to be to extend consciousness of the shop on campus.
Karagulian mentioned the 2 organizations collaborated partly as a result of Greek campus existence is a big contributor to speedy type developments. She mentioned that participants of Greek organizations will higher perceive their consumerism by way of connecting with the Workplace of Sustainability.
“I am hoping that the coed frame can be extra conscious about sustainability on campus,” Karagulian mentioned. “I think like other people do not even know that the Switch Store exists and that they’ve this ingenious outlet and house within the Workplace of Sustainability.”
Karagulian mentioned the shop is geared toward mitigating the issues speedy type gifts on faculty campuses. She mentioned that purchasing reasonable garments ends up in unsustainable practices.
“On this age vary, everybody spends some huge cash on speedy type and does not actually take into accounts the results,” Karagulian mentioned. “It is simply needless movements, spending cash on reasonable garments. This can be a just right approach to take value under consideration however do it in a extra sustainable means.”
Clothes ranged from Halloween costumes to iciness coats to summer time attire.
Jada Gonzalez, ’24, a widespread donor and in-store client, mentioned sustainability is considered one of her passions.
He mentioned the affect of speedy type is one thing that worries him, particularly on faculty campuses and in Greek existence.
“Speedy type in a world sense is a actually bad factor to inspire,” González mentioned. “From our viewpoint, it is almost definitely actually wonderful to shop for reasonable garments, however there are numerous eventualities the place the individuals who make the inexpensive garments you get are actually crying out for lend a hand.”
González mentioned she is pleased with the luck of the pop-up, because it used to be a good way to teach a bigger pupil inhabitants concerning the sustainability of favor.
Grace Allen, ’23, a member of the Panhel group and an attendee on the match, had an identical issues at the subject of speedy type.
Allen mentioned it might probably on occasion be extra handy for students to buy reasonable garments, however Switch Store is a miles smarter possibility for decreasing waste from first-hand buying groceries.
Despite the fact that she used to be acquainted with the Switch Store prior to, she mentioned that lots of her friends weren’t. She mentioned partnering with the Panhel group used to be a a hit approach to get the phrase out about Switch Store.
“Having the ability to have occasions like this now not most effective brings the Panhellenic chapters in combination, but in addition connects them to the larger Lehigh group,” mentioned Allen.