A marketplace for buying second-hand clothes is enabling college students and staff to be sustainable and thrifty.
Students at USP College Seevic Campus, in Benfleet, and Palmer’s Campus, in Grays, have just launched their own shop to enable people to be stylish whilst supporting sustainability.
The college has a strategic focus on sustainability and innovation, holding its own Sustainability Week this month including a programme of activities.
USP Thrifted was the brainchild of the student union, including student union president Amber Carter-Andrews and social and charity champion Mollie Cleary.
With prices ranging from 50p for a pair of shorts to £5 for a jacket, it is hoped the shop will enable members of the community to add to their wardrobe while supporting the reuse and recycle mission.
We were trying to think of something we could do in college that would not be just a one-off event. We had thought of the idea of a charity shop and so discussed it with the whole student union. We talked about who was going to be involved, where it would be and how it would work.
We had so many items donated in the first week. It has gone so much better than we expected it to go. Everyone loves it.
I didn’t realise how proud we would feel to have created this. It is not just us thinking about something; it has been created and people are buying from our shop. It is amazing to see the smiles on people’s faces when they have picked up a great piece of clothing for such a good price. They wouldn’t be able to get that anywhere else so accessibly or cheaply.
Donations, made through student services desks, are sorted and washed before being added to the selling racks.
While the shops are set up in college’s social spaces for high footfall for now, they will be moved to more permanent spots on site in time.
All profits made from the shop – which raised £80 in its first hour - will be put back into the student union coffers.
Nothing is above £5 and pricing is not based on branding or size. We wanted the shop to be equal for everyone, while keeping it affordable.
Members of the student union, from both campuses, meet fortnightly to discuss their ideas and projects, and provide a link between students and senior leaders to share ideas to improve the college.
USP Thrifted
USP Sustainability Week
