Re-Wear It, a new student organization that promotes conscious consumerism and sustainable fashion, had their final clothing swap of the semester Friday. Students and campus community members are invited to bring clothing items they no longer want to swap out for new items at Re-Wear It’s events.
The swap was set up in a large meeting room at the Student Activity Center, with clothing organized by type neatly folded on long rows of tables. Upon entering, participants filled out a google form indicating how many items they brought to swap and what types of clothing they brought. After organizing their clothes on the tables, people could then swap as many items as they brought.
Re-Wear It President Yvett Sanchez, a junior studying textiles and fashion design, started the organization as part of her community engagement project for her sustainability certificate. She knew she wanted to start an organization that focused on sustainable fashion and consumption after seeing other schools around the country start similar projects.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about and it also ties in with my major,” said Sanchez. “I hope to go into sustainable fashion and maybe work for a sustainable fashion company.”
Re-wear It partnered with the UW Divestment Coalition as part of their Divestment Day of Action for this last swap of the semester, printing climate action designs on second-hand t-shirts. Divestment Day of Action focuses on demanding that UW-Madison divest from using fossil fuels and, in turn, invest in greener energy alternatives.
While Re-wear It has only been hosting swaps once a month this semester, Sanchez hopes to increase the frequency to twice a month next semester.
The organization has recently applied to the Green Fund, a program through the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability that supports student-led sustainability and social-impact projects. The Green Fund disburses $50,000 for the 2021-22 school year to support around four to six projects. Sanchez hopes that through the Green Fund, Re-wear It will be able to secure a more permanent space in the Student Activity Center where people can come during the week to swap clothes.
“We’re very optimistic about having a space to swap for next year,” said Sanchez. “Each swap keeps getting bigger and better. A lot of people have been really receptive to it, which has been really exciting.”
To learn more about sustainable fashion and consumerism, visit @rewearitwisco on Instagram.
