Recycle shopping has been around for decades as a popular and easy way for people to get discounts on clothes they no longer need or want. It has been gaining traction among young shoppers in recent years, with many homes stocked with second-hand clothing and household items. Because people found innovative ways to embrace thrifty clothing that helped create the Thrifty Club at the University of Cincinnati (UC).
UC Thrift is a new club created by UC students on December 1, 2022. The club felt that universities needed to create better ways to reduce waste while also bringing awareness to the second-hand shopping industry. The club was launched following an event hosted by UC Sustainability. During the event, speakers discussed various sustainability issues and how to bring green practices to campus. The group’s goal is to reduce clothing waste on campus and encourage UC students to live environmentally safe lives.
Sophia Ferries-Rowe, a fourth-year urban planning student, is the president of UC Thrift. “We hope to partner with various sustainability and clothing-oriented organizations on campus, as well as larger groups such as her Cincinnati Recycle and Reuse Hub, to bring appreciation to the thrift experience.” She said Ferries-Rowe.
I started the organization after seeing students throwing away their unfamiliar dormitory belongings for a drive at the end of the semester. “So rather than just throwing away your stuff, UC Thrift is envisioned as a space for people to donate their belongings and exchange clothes with other students for fun,” he said. His freshman year in Astrophysics and the club’s volunteer coordinator.
UC Thrift is exploring ways to expand to include savings on a variety of items such as dormitories and household items. For example, when upperclassmen move out of their dorms and move into homes or apartments, they can donate clean plastic tableware, lamps, storage drawers, or other dorm essentials to new students in need.
The club also aims to create spaces where people can easily exchange clothes and keep clothes circulating. Collect donations from , put them on the shelf, and lower the price to $5 or less. The money they make goes to local organizations like Shelterhouse and Bearcats Pantry.
“Our goal is to reduce this kind of ignorant consumption, get students to buy it, and extend the life cycle of clothing,” said Ferries-Rowe. “At the pop-up, you’ll see someone have that shirt that’s been in my closet for like five years, and I’m happy it’s part of the outfit now.”
When clothing is thrown away rather than donated, it can end up in a landfill. “I think we live in a culture that is pretty wasteful. Many of us try to be careful about how much we consume on clothes and other things, but sometimes everyone has something that they have never used. Sometimes you end up with items that you don’t have and things that you’ve never worn, never worn,” said Ferries-Rowe.
By hosting thrift shop events around campus, the club aims to encourage others to cycle things and keep them out of landfills.
As thrift becomes more popular, so are the prices of goods. The surge in demand for second-hand clothing has pushed prices up and ultimately made it harder to come by second-hand items that were once cheap. UC Thrift is working hard to address this issue.
One of UC Thrift’s goals is to continue to expand and reach more students. “By the time I graduate, I really hope that the club will have a greater presence on campus and that more students will participate in clothing exchanges.