If you walked across the Terrace on campus this Monday, you may have noticed a few silver clothing racks stocked with colorful pre-loved clothes.
It’s Earth Day Week, and Marymount Manhattan College students are celebrating with a unique and returning tradition. Sustain MMC, a registered student organization, is hosting two of its well-known clothing swap events this week.
“Clothing swap events have been one of our most popular annual events. I love these events because they allow students to refresh their closets without creating more waste or spending any money, making them both accessible and kind to the planet,” said Vice President of Sustain MMC and an MMC senior Abigail Abbott-White.
Sustain MMC is dedicated to fostering a sustainable culture on campus and holding the college accountable to its sustainability commitments through action and communication. In the past, the group has facilitated craft nights, bird-watching events, Central Park cleanups and more.
This week, Sustain hosted its first clothing swap on Monday, April 21, with its second event planned for Friday, April 25.
They announced the swaps with a post on Instagram, saying, “It’s that time of year again, happy Earth Week! Gather your unwanted clothing and accessories and join us on Monday and Friday to swap.”
Monday’s event was held on the Terrace, and students were encouraged to bring clothing and accessories they no longer wanted and to take items in return.
“Earth Day is a celebration of the planet that supports all life on Earth, including humans,” said Abbott-White. “It reminds us to be more mindful of our actions and how they affect the health of the planet… Whether our appreciation is shown through implementing zero-waste practices into our daily lives, composting personal food scraps, making an effort to recycle all waste created, purchasing clean energy, buying pre-loved clothing or clothing from sustainable fashion companies, starting a garden, donating to environmental organizations, or other mindful practices, it all makes a difference.”
In addition to the racks of free clothing available at Monday’s swap, Sustain presented a poster with links to various environmental organizations for those interested in donating. A few of these organizations included The Nature Conservancy, FabScrap, The Ocean Conservancy and more.
“The Earth is the perfect home that provides us with everything we need, so Earth Day is a great reminder to provide it with what it needs,” said Abbott-White. “To keep it healthy and continue supporting all of us.”
