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Firsthand Experience
WITH SECONDHAND CLOTHING
By Natalie Thibault, Nikka Solatorio, Lyndsey Fisher, Shelby Hodges
Advisor: Jennifer Harmon, Assistant Professor Design, Merchandising & Textiles;
Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Wyoming
Images by Natalie Thibault
Editor’s Note: In 2016, I approached the Family & Consumer
Sciences Department at the University of Wyoming with an
opportunity to promote the work of their students, particularly
in the avenue of our new Wyoming Women & Family material
that we have been developing. Jennifer Harmon, Assistant
Professor offered me an opportunity to observe a group project
in the spring of 2017 – I was excited to participate! The
groups chose local Laramie non-profits, offered their time and
talents and learned about the cause and inner workings of their
selection. I was invited to attend their final presentations and
choose a group to spotlight in the next issue of WLM. I enjoyed
all the presentations, and it was a difficult choice. At the end
of the day, I chose the Clothing Cottage presentation for many
reasons; the greatest reason was due to Wyoming’s current
economic situation. Hearing the stories of many of my friends
who have lost income and are planning where to cut corners
in their lives, the idea of providing necessities such as clothing
hit home. How do you clothe your rapidly growing children on
a limited budget? In these times of necessity, can you shop for
secondhand clothing without a feeling of guilt? Can applying
boutique rationale to secondhand displays help lessen that
stigma and support a struggling Wyoming family? I found this
presentation to be uniquely relevant.
secondhand
clothing store
to become as
welcoming
as her
surrounding
community.
Hearing about Chanda’s renovation plans, Dr. Jennifer
Harmon, a professor at the University of Wyoming in the
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, reached
out to several of the Design, Merchandising and Textile
students to form a group of volunteers to help Chanda
with her store’s transformation.
When given the opportunity to aid in Chanda’s
thrift store remodel, we were excited to learn how
Chanda’s store functions and to apply our design,
merchandising and apparel skills. Chanda, like many
A
ccording to textile recycling firms, an estimated
70% of the world wears secondhand clothing
(Trans Continental Textile Recycling Ltd.,
2012). Honing in on the U.S., secondhand clothing
loses its popularity primarily due to societal pressures
of the fast fashion industry and stigma behind used
goods; however, interest in thrift store shopping is
steadily increasing. Thrift stores have begun updating
their image, aiming to provide customers with a friendly
experience that is stigma free. These thrift store updates
are being showcased around the U.S. and have even
reached Laramie, Wyoming. Specifically, Chanda Zieger,
manager of the Clothing Cottage, has grand plans for her
www.wyolifestyle.com
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