Q&A: Marissa Cheslock 

FCCLA Co-President, senior Marissa Cheslock thrifts, changes clothing to give new life

How did you get involved in thrifting?

I started thrifting when I learned about sustainability and I wanted to stop buying new clothes when possible. I would go to thrift stores because they were more sustainable options. I go through everything I have and I don’t buy anything unless it’s something that I really want. A lot of times when I go thrifting, I’ll buy something I don’t really need and then never wear it, which defeats the purpose. (So), I only buy what I actually want.

What do you do with clothing after you thrift it?

Right after, I thrift clothing, it always goes straight into the laundry. Once it’s washed, I either put it away if it’s something I’m not going to alter or flip, or I’ll put it aside for a few days, so I can think of ideas. A lot of things that I buy, I alter. Whether it’s cutting it up a little bit, or making it more trendy, or taking it apart and making something completely different out of it, I alter a lot of the things I thrift. 

What’s your favorite part about thrifting and altering clothing?

It makes me feel good about things I am buying and being creative with it. I enjoy going to the store and coming up with ideas of things that I can do. My favorite part about thrifting and altering clothing is the fact that the clothes are being given a second life, rather than sitting on a rack, in my closet, or in a landfill.

Do you have any advice for those who want to thrift or repurpose their clothes?

My advice would be to just go for it. With thrifting, you’re not going to hit a jackpot every single time, but you’ll never find anything if you don’t try. And sewing can feel very intimidating at first which is what turns most people away, but it just takes practice and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Start with what you have because that’s the most sustainable option;go through everything you have. 

Q&A: Lila Simmons

Cabinet Member, junior Lila Simmons sells clothing as a way to fundraise

What are you doing for FTK?

This year, because we are limited in the ways that we can raise money, we had to think of it (in a) more outside-the-box (way). So, me and another Cabinet member decided to consign our clothes to raise money for the kids at (the) Riley’s Hospital for Children.

What’s the message you want to spread from your account?

In Cabinet, we wanted to be really creative with the ways we raised money. We all have a purpose (for) why we are doing this, which is for the kids at Riley. So I think the harder you work and the harder you want something, that will help you raise money and help support the kids at Riley Children’s Hospital.

How much are you hoping to raise from your clothing account?

So far, we have made around $400. We are hoping to make another $500. All proceeds of our clothing account go toward Riley Children’s Hospital.

Can you describe the types of clothing you sell and why you chose to sell clothes above other items?

We sell a lot of sweatshirts and sweaters and right now, we have a lot of summer clothes out as we are transitioning to fall. We are also going through some fall clothing. We decided to do clothes because we both talk about places like Plato’s Closet (that) do not pay us enough money for our clothes because we are giving away really nice clothes like Champion sweatshirts and Brandy Melville. So we were like, ‘What if we start a clothing account?’