Fighting Fast Fashion Waste with Chatham Student Power
In the fall of 2019, Chatham Student Power (CSP) members, attended a Students for Zero Waste conference in Philadelphia that sparked the inspiration to encourage Chatham students to make individual changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Thus, the Sustainable Fashion Fair (SFF), an event where students can donate clothing and buy others’ donations, was born. Now in its third year, the fair continues to help reduce fast fashion waste while providing funding for local Pittsburgh organizations and education on sustainable buying habits.
We spoke with two of CSP’s newest officers, Jorie Meil ‘24 and Frances Hurst Brubaker ‘23 to see what’s planned for this year’s event and learn more about their inspiration for getting involved!
What inspired each of you to get involved with CSP and the fair?
Jorie Meil, Communications major with minors in Marketing and Jewish Studies ‘24
CSP Resource Coordinator
(she/her)
Jorie Meil: I got involved in CSP kind of around the Sustainable Fashion Fair last year. I was friends with Zoe Levine, who was graduating, and we were talking about how she would love it if there was still Jewish representation in the club after she graduated. So, I thought I would try to get involved more. For the fair this year, I'm kind of in charge of the donations and volunteer committee which is a really great way to meet lots of people on campus. I think this is an event that everybody can come to and have a lot of fun at and it's also a really great way for newer people like me last year to get involved with the club.
Frances Hurst Brubaker, Environmental Science ‘23
CSP Finance and Research Officer
(she/her)
Frances Hurst Brubaker: When I came into Chatham in 2020 everything was being conducted virtually and I noticed that CSP was one of the clubs that was really remaining active at the time. I learned about the SFF because it really is CSP’s biggest event. I think that it's such a cool project in that it combines environmental sustainability with social activism and social sustainability. We do donate a lot of the funds and clothing left over to the local free stores and other Pittsburgh organizations. We also provide information through the fair about how fast fashion negatively impacts our world. I think it's just a cool sort of intersectional project that brings together a lot of our values.
What does the format of the fair look like this year?
JM: It's going to be big this year, we have most of the Mellon building rented out for the night. In the board room, we have all of the clothes which will be sold for a dollar each and if you donate before the fair, you get credit towards an item. We’ve got some really good stuff this year and there will be food along with student artists and student organizations who are tabling. We also are going to have a student raising donations and support for Ukraine right now. So, there's going to be a lot of different fun and good things going on.
How does the fair continue the mission of CSP?
FHB: I think that CSP is working to further itself as a club that incorporates both environmental issues and social justice and activism. One thing we’re trying to make sure is that the fair is educational about holistic sustainability since it really encompasses all issues. We’re looking into having some different organizations that provide aid around Pittsburgh table at the event as well to provide information on their work to students. I think that this event has been able to expand from being a thrifted fashion fair to now supporting student artists and promoting the work that CSP and other social activism groups on and off campus are doing. Plus, it creates this closed-loop economy by providing credit to those who donate and donating the profits.
How exactly does this all help combat fast fashion waste?
Jorie Meil sorts clothing with another student at the 2021 Sustainable Fashion Fair
FHB: I think it's kind of hard to quantify a specific number because it's such a big issue but if you look at the amount that students get rid of when they go to move out, some of that is donated and some is just thrown away. If you throw it away, it just kind of all gets bundled up and shipped overseas and ends up polluting other places. We've definitely got enough donations that if people had just thrown them away, it would be a dumpster full of clothes. I think that this is just an event that kind of brings out some attention to our consumption habits. While on a large scale, it probably isn't making a massive dent in the issue, it is giving students the tools to continue these habits.
JM: I think something we also don’t talk enough about is how events like this help combat thrift store gentrification through offering everything for a dollar and providing credit. I know a lot of students love thrifting but it’s important that we acknowledge where we are thrifting and if we are taking away from communities that need the items. In a way, this helps us provide for our own community while watching out for the ones around us.
What’s next for CSG?
JM: It's been an interesting last two years in which student engagement has been difficult. But, I think with things calming down a little there is a lot of opportunities for CSG to grow. Some of our lovely executive board members are graduating, so we’re always looking for more involvement and more people to take on leadership roles. I’m excited to see what kind of new ideas and opportunities that brings to the club.
The Sustainable Fashion Fair will be held on Friday, March 25 from 7-10 p.m. in the Mellon building. Students may drop off their items on Friday, March 18 from 3-6 p.m. in the Carriage House for credit. More information can be found on CSP’s Instagram or by reaching out to CSP executive, Morgan Williams.
To learn more about Chatham’s continued commitment to sustainability, go here.