Hanley Sustainability Institute

By Zay Min Htike

Want to give your closet a glow-up without spending a single cent? Ready to make fashion sustainable and circular all while vibing with your community? Here’s a look at the Hanley Sustainability Institute’s first-ever clothing swap at our very own University of Dayton during October Sustainability Week.

The Gameplan

It was the perfect fall day at Humanities Plaza, with golden leaves swirling around as students gathered under the tent for an epic Halloween pop-up clothing swap. In collaboration with UD’s Sustainability Club, the Hanley Sustainability Student Leader Program brought a clothing swap to life that was equally fun and eco-friendly. It was a buzzing scene with racks amped up with cozy sweaters, stylish jackets and trendy jeans, all perfectly sorted by category and size, while tables displayed costumes and festive decor. And to top it off, an upbeat playlist kept the crowd fired up.

A week before the swap, we set up donation boxes around campus, making it easy for students to drop off their pre-loved clothes ahead, kicking things off strong for the big day. The event was open to all, with or without donations or clothes to swap, because sustainability should be for everyone. It was our top priority to make the swap accessible and welcoming, with all items being free to take — because who doesn’t like free stuff? 

Why I’m all in

As someone obsessed with sustainability and fashion, I wanted to help reduce the environmental impact of the fast fashion industry. Every year, millions of tons of clothes wind up in landfills, while the production process drains resources and emits toxins and carbon.

By swapping instead of buying new, we’re breaking this cycle and granting our clothes a second life. A lot of my favorite outfits are thrifted, and seeing how unique, affordable and impactful secondhand clothing can be made me rethink my fashion choices. I wanted to share this wonderful experience with others and it’s what inspired me to bring the magic of swapping to UD.

By inviting students to share, reuse and rethink our fashion choices, I wanted to show that sustainability can be fun, interactive, meaningful and accessible. I wanted to prove that you can be fashionably in vogue and eco-conscious at the same time.

The Power of Clothing Swaps

Clothing swaps are a total game changer against fast fashion’s impact on the environment. Each swapped item means one less garment in landfills. By swapping with us, students helped conserve water, energy and raw materials that would have gone into new clothes. Fast fashion is notorious for contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from industrial textile processes. Our swap offsets this impact while lowering our carbon footprint. 

And let’s not forget about the community aspect. Clothing swaps help create a space where students can connect and share their love for fashion and style with one another without breaking the bank. Students didn’t just pick up clothes, they picked up insights on conscious consumerism and fostered a culture of sustainability and circular economy right here at UD.

Results that rock

Our event was a hit!

With students from all class years and majors participating, we saw a 97.5% satisfaction rate from our survey and 100% saying they’re already pumped for the next one. We saved 69 pounds of clothing from landfills — 37.4 pounds swapped among students and 31.6 pounds, all received from students, donated to St. Vincent de Paul, a nonprofit that supports Dayton’s homeless and low-income community with essentials like shelter and food.

As we build a circular economy at UD, we also want to make a positive impact on our beloved Dayton community.

What’s next?

We are very grateful to everyone who participated in our event, showering us with positive feedback. Thanks to all the support, we’re already exploring future possibilities and we might be back sooner than you think.

Maybe the clothing swap will become a monthly thing? A little birdie also told me that next spring's Earthfest 2025, there might be a thrifted runway show featuring UD students in unique styles that preloved pieces bring so mark your calendar. Who knows? We might even launch a campus-free/thrift store at UD with items from the move-in, move-out collection where students can “shop” sustainably and affordably all year round while incorporating circularity and reuse into our lives. 

I’m excited about what the future holds and can’t wait to keep pushing for sustainability with all of you. So next time you’re ready to refresh your wardrobe, think about swapping with us instead of shopping — and let’s work together in shaping a greener future here at UD, one swap at a time.