Refresh Your Wardrobe and Give Back

Spring is in the air, bringing with it the perfect opportunity to refresh and declutter. As you do some spring cleaning and swap out winter wear for lighter clothes, take a moment to assess your wardrobe. Do you have business clothes (business casual or professional) that no longer fit or that you haven’t worn in ages? Rather than letting them take up space, or worse, throwing them out, consider how they might still be valuable to someone else.

Helping Fellow Students Dress for Success

For many students at Catholic University of America, the search for internships, job interviews, and professional networking opportunities is in full swing. However, not everyone has easy access to the professional clothing needed to make a strong first impression. There are many different events and circumstances at Catholic University when proper business attire can be a game-changer, boosting confidence and helping students present themselves professionally without the added financial burden of buying new clothes. Catholic hosts a number of career fairs and networking events in which students need to be dressed in a professional matter.

Reducing Fashion Waste for a Sustainable Future

Fashion waste is a growing global problem, with millions of pounds of clothing ending up in landfills each year. Fast fashion and impulsive shopping habits lead to discarded garments that could have been repurposed or reused. The production of textiles also consumes an extremely large amount of water and energy, which heavily contributes to pollution and carbon emissions. Instead of letting dress shirts, blouses, slacks, or blazers contribute to environmental waste, there’s an opportunity to give them a second life. Making mindful choices about what we do with our clothing can contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly campus community.

What to Donate

While all donations are encouraged and appreciated, the focus of this initiative is professional attire, including:

● Blazers and suit jackets

● Dress shirts and blouses

● Slacks and dress pants

● Skirts and dresses appropriate for professional settings

● Ties and belts

Donations should be clean and in good condition, think about what you would feel confident wearing to an interview.

How to Participate

Now that you know the impact your donations can have, it’s time to take action! Bring your clothes to the Cardinal Closet in McMahon Hall B02, where students in need can access them for free. Beyond donating, you can support this initiative by spreading the word! Share our Instagram post and encourage friends, classmates, and faculty members to participate. The more awareness we generate, the greater the impact we can make together. Cleaning out your closet might feel like a small task, but it has the power to create meaningful change. By donating your gently used business attire, you’re not only making space in your wardrobe, you’re helping fellow students step into their future with confidence. Join us in making this spring cleaning season one that benefits our entire Catholic University community. One piece of clothing at a time, we can make a difference!