Thrift Shopping in NYC
In high school, I had done a lot of research about sustainability and was interested in environmental science. Towards the end of my senior year, I started to look into the impact that the clothing industry had on the environment. I found out about the benefits of thrifting clothes instead of promoting companies that support fast fashion; however, because I lived in a small town in New Jersey, it was difficult to find any thrift stores near me. Although I was interested in fashion, I also didn’t want to support an unethical industry, it became difficult for me to find ways to explore my creative passion. It wasn’t until I came to Barnard that I was able to take advantage of all the benefits of going to a school that is located in New York City, including thrift shopping! During the New Student Orientation Program, or NSOP, the orientation leaders organized a lot of different activities to help students get acclimated to living in New York by introducing us to things to do in the city. These activities would range from trips to East Village eateries, Smorgasburg, or even going to a Mets game. Not only were we able to explore different parts of New York, but these programs made it easy to make friends while exploring new places.
After NSOP, thrifting became another way for me to explore the city and connect with people. When I went thrifting, not only was I able to find a lot of cool new stores, but I also found a lot of new friends that had similar interests as I did. Throughout the course of the first semester, my friends and I were able to explore thrift stores both far from and near campus depending on our schedules for the day. It became one of our favorite activities and when we had extra time after class, we would take the 1 train and explore new shops. Often, our excursions to the thrift stores did not end up with us purchasing any clothes, but rather, it was an easy way for us to get inspired and travel to different parts of the city that we haven’t been to before. Something that I’ve discovered while living in New York is that fashion has become a creative outlet for me and thrift stores are an affordable, practical, and sustainable way to explore my interest. Because my friends and I often have different tastes, it has forced me to experiment even more with my style and find new ways to express myself.
Not only does being in New York enable me to explore my interests in fashion easily but by specifically being at Barnard, I have the privilege of all of the facilities that Barnard provides for their students. Outside of classes, I continue to learn from my peers, and my friends who share an interest in fashion are no exception. One of the resources that Barnard students have access to is the Design Center in The Milstein Center. The Design Center has 3D printers, laser cutters, and many other design tools that students can use. Towards the end of first semester, my friends and I started going to the Design Center, and they had taught me how to use a sewing machine to alter any pieces that I wanted to design. Reflecting on my first year at Barnard, I remember my excitement to attend this college and to explore the opportunities that came with being in New York City; however, looking back, I didn’t realize how my interests in fashion or my love for the environment would shape my first-year in college.
-Chloe Siao