Ethically bought clothes save lives- so why not try?
A thrifting fundraiser called “Not for Sale” took place at Seven Palms on the evening of Oct. 17. All students who were eager to add second-hand thrifts to their closet were welcome. Attendance was high throughout the night, with a steady stream of people.
The event was put on by the on-campus club, Free the Captives, and raised $788, which will be donated to organizations that fight against human trafficking and modern slavery by funding rescue missions.
The event was hosted in partnership with the Office of Women’s Development to bring in other campus representatives to help spread awareness and collect donations.
The event focused on bringing attention to slave labor by promoting the practice of buying second hand clothes. Buying second hand takes away profits from fast fashion companies who use slave labor to make clothes in mass amounts at a poor quality. Someone is always paying for the clothes that are being bought, either from the factories themselves or the materials being used.
At the event, colorful dresses hung on racks, mom jeans lay folded and a plethora of shirts took over tables— all ready to find a new home. Well known brands were available at the one-night thrift event such as Madewell and Free People, where all items were listed for less than $5.
The cause of this event hit close to home.The garment district of Los Angeles is one of the main labor trafficking hubs, according to End Slavery Now. The organization acknowledges that consumerism fuels the continued rise of labor trafficking. One of the main factors is cost, because most free trade and organic clothing companies have price ranges that are unrealistic for a college student. The organization claims that buying ethically saves money because of the lack of “impulse buys” in everyday life.
Aside from advocating against slave labor, Free the Captives actively hosts events and meetings to educate others on matters of “local and global freedom,” said Jaci Clark, president of Free the Captives.
According to Clark, the fundraiser was a success. However, the overall goal for the club is to raise $14,000 to put towards funding rescue missions over the course of the year.
“I loved buying clothes knowing that it was for a good cause,” said Jessie Armstrong, a junior business major that attended the event. Student support was evident in the numbers, as few clothes remained unsold.
Aside from the event, Free the Captives meets weekly to discuss the realities of modern slavery and invites everyone to attend and learn more about methods of standing against human trafficking. The educational meetings are geared to initiate conversation about the different types of trafficking.
The club will host other events that will continue to raise awareness and financial support for the funding of rescue missions. The goal of reaching $14,000 began with “Not for Sale.” However, the biggest month for the club comes in December in collaboration with Dressember — the club’s main financial contributor.
Dressember, a movement that began in 2013, challenges participants for the duration of December to wear a dress or tie everyday in order to raise funds individually that contribute to the global problem of sex trafficking. As Dressember is coming up soon, the event provided the perfect opportunity for participants to stock up on some new threads– dresses included.
Free the Captives will continue to follow their mantra, and “taking a stand for those who can’t” in future months with Dressember.