Vanderbilt the Possible
Imagining a Sustainable Campus
Where We Are
Currently at Vanderbilt, we do not have an on-campus thrift store, however there is an ever-increasing need for such a space. A small-scale survey of Vanderbilt students found that on average, female students spend about $200 per month on apparel purchases. The majority of surveyed students also reported owning more than twenty-five pairs of shoes, but only wearing four of them regularly. When compared to a poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center that found that the average American woman owns 19 pairs of shoes, it is clear that Vandy students are huge consumers of apparel-type merchandise.
Where We Are Going
We want an on-campus thrift store to help decrease student spending on apparel purchases and also to lessen our consumption patterns by exchanging tradable treasures with our peers. Our thrift store would provide a venue for people to dispose of their so-called junk in a more environmentally friendly way. As we all know, one man’s “junk” is another man’s treasure. Vandy’s thrift store would make this mantra a reality.
Success Stories
Middlebury College's "The Trunk"
In 2011, a student-run thrift shop opened at Middlebury College called the Trunk. The shop aims to challenge notions of usability and waste by presenting discarded clothing and other items in a retail environment. Acquired through collections, donations, and the recycling center, the items are cleaned and repaired before being sold at a nominal fee. The Trunk has experienced great success at Middlebury and the college is considering the shop’s expansion. The founders of the Trunk appear to have struck success and continue to positively impact the environment through each piece of clothing saved!
Trinity College's "The Coop"
Trinity College also opened at student-run thrift shop that sells items ranging from microwaves and posters to jewelry and socks. The Coop, as the shop is called around campus, provides items to furnish residence-hall rooms as well as apparel items at bargain prices--all without having to trek to the post office to pick them up! The shop is dedicated to environmental causes, sustainability, and reducing the College’s carbon footprint. Students believe that the shop has met these goals through the recycling of goods and merchandise that are in good condition.
Where
Student Life Center
Thrift Shop
We have a vision for an on-campus thrift store that will not only enable us to save money on apparel, but also to decrease our material consumption and share with our peers. It takes around 1800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to make just one pair of jeans. Why should we double that when we want a new pair?
How To Get Involved