Back to school means back to budgeting. But budgeting doesn’t mean forgoing trendy styles or re-wearing last year’s fads, it means taking advantage of affordable fashion. Thanks to Emily Jaenike, this was made possible in 2022 with the creation of Villanova’s Free Store, a budget-friendly store so friendly, it’s free. What’s more, it’s both stylish and sustainable.
Living in a society fueled by overconsumption, students are often left with clothes piled sky high, forced to cram them into a college-sized closet accommodating a fraction of what we own. By now we’ve reached the peak of winter, meaning everyone has broken out their puffiest coats, thickest sweaters, as well as scarves, hats and gloves. Instead of letting last summer’s t-shirts clog up your drawers, collecting dust, drop them at the Wildcat Thrift Shop. In doing so, you create a cycle that offers endless opportunities to refresh your wardrobe without increasing spending or consumption.
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Those t-shirts you donated at the start of winter will be a lucky find for someone else as signs of spring reappear. And as the season turns and students come to donate their winter boots and coats to make room for warmer apparel, those very items will be waiting for you next winter when the weather shifts again.
So, what exactly can students find in the Free Store? Located in the basement of Falvey Library, this shop offers both vintage and new apparel organized on racks, shelves and tables. But it doesn’t stop at clothing. The more you dig, the more hidden gems you’ll find. My personal favorite was a rentable pizza oven free for student use. Other items include a full-size piano, donated business attire and more.
One thing is for certain: fashion trends get recycled over time. The heart of the Free Store’s mission is exactly this phenomenon: reduce, reuse and recycle. By ordering fewer packages, you reduce carbon emissions from factories, planes and trucks, all part of the production and shipment process. In addition, you limit consumption of plastic and paper waste.
Recent data shows that 85% of all textiles end up in landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Villanova’s goal is to eventually reach net-zero waste, contributing towards decreasing alarming stats like this. The Free Store offers a sustainable solution directed towards achieving this goal.
Currently, the “Free Store” is working to spread awareness of its efforts. The store receives less natural foot traffic given its location. However, recent efforts have been made to promote its presence.
Sophomore Carmie Zuniga just discovered the store after her environmental science professor gave a sustainability tour at the start of the semester.
“I think what Villanova is doing with the thrift store is amazing,” Zuniga said. “It’s such an easy and convenient way for people in our community to limit their textile waste. [It has] some pretty cool finds, so I highly recommend visiting it as an alternative to fast fashion.”
