Everyone wears clothes. It’s a universally acknowledged fact. Another universally acknowledged fact is that clothes cost money, and nowadays they aren’t exactly cheap. As prices continue to rise, shopping for clothing can be quite expensive. That is where thrift shops come in.
Buying second hand clothes from thrift stores represents a great option for clothes shopping. It allows people to get more clothing for less money. Some thrift store options in Mesa County include Fruita Thrift Shop, Goodwill, Arc Thrift Store, Runway Fashion Exchange and now the Wildcat Wardrobe.
The Wildcat Wardrobe is a thrift shop recently started by Fruita Monument High School’s Environmental Club. It is located on the high school’s campus in room 401. At any time, students at the school can drop off any clothing or shoes in front of the room. The shop is then open every Wednesday and Thursday during access and unlike other thrift shops, this one is 100% free.
The Wildcat Wardrobe has been in the works since May, when Fruita Monument’s principal, Newt Klusmire, first approached the environmental club about the possibility of creating a thrift shop. From there, members of the club worked to make that idea a reality. It was a long process, but luckily Grand Junction High School was able to lend a helping hand. “The Wildcat Wardrobe is heavily inspired by the Tiger Boutique at GJHS, run by Mrs. Cronk and her students. Mrs. Cronk was a huge help throughout the entire process,” Junior Reagan Geer, President of the Environmental Club explained.
Thrift shops can benefit the environment in a multitude of ways. They help lower resource consumption, reduce waste, and promote sustainability. Not only that, but it gives people another option when shopping, and one that is less expensive. By bringing a thrift store to the school, the environmental club is hoping that the many benefits will reach the school as well. According to Geer, the Wildcat Wardrobe was designed with some goals in mind. “There are three main purposes of the Wildcat Wardrobe: to create a fun place to find new clothes, to encourage thrifting and sustainability, and to provide students with necessities they need without any cost.”
Hopefully, these purposes will shine through as FMHS students work to embrace the thrifting culture. Whether that be donating clothing or stopping by to grab a new shirt, doing either will help to promote thrifting and get the Wildcat Wardrobe off to a strong start. The many benefits the wardrobe will bring if students embrace this thrifting culture will be able to be seen across the campus for years to come.
Make sure to stop by room 401 sometime this year to check out this new school edition. Thank you to the environmental club and all the hard work you’ve done in creating this thrift shop. Now sit back, relax, and REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.
