University of Denver Spring/Summer 2023

Passion Project A DU journalism major takes on fast fashion DU students are renowned for their passions, whether those are related to social justice or sustainability. They’re also known for converting passion into action. Ambriel Speagle, a junior majoring in journalism, cares a lot about sustainability and fashion. So, it’s not surprising that she’s concerned about fast fashion and its disturbing consequences. But worried as she may be, Speagle, shown below, believes that the fast fashion problem is solvable, and she has done her part to solve it. Since coming to DU, Speagle has written about the topic for student publications and made it the centerpiece of class projects. To capitalize on her knowledge and determination, the University of Denver Magazine asked Speagle to research and write two articles, one a feature on the new DU Thrift Store, the other an essay exploring her interest in the topic.

DU Thrift Store encourages sustainable consumption practices BY AMBRIEL SPEAGLE With tight budgets and pressure to chase ever-changing trends, college students are the ideal target market for fast fashion companies. To combat on-campus fast fashion con sumption, the DU Thrift Store offers students a sustainable and budget-friendly shopping alternative. The store is operated by the DU Center for Sustainability as part of the larger Sustainability Marketplace. What began as a series of successful pop-up thrift events has morphed into a full-fledged on-campus store. “We were closing all these waste cycles and students loved it, so we thought it would be awesome if it could be a permanent resource,” says the store’s founder, Kayla Fatemi Badi (BA ’22). Fatemi-Badi began working at the Center for Sustain ability her first year at DU. Now a graduate student at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, she spent her four years as an undergraduate organizing efforts to launch a brick-and-mortar thrift store on campus. The DU Thrift Store officially opened its doors to the public in Centennial Towers during Fatemi-Badi’s senior year. Accessibility was the store’s founding pillar. It compen sates for the lack of thrift stores within walking distance of DU’s campus, plus everything is sold for under $5. “Ethical fashion should be accessible to everyone. Going beyond just affordability, students should have access to a variety of clothing to be able to express themselves,” says Ellie Barnett-Cashman, a first-year criminology student and thrift store employee. Thrift store manager and second-year international studies student Jacob Tonozzi also appreciates the value of providing sustainable shopping opportunities to students. “Fast fashion is an environmental issue that we as consumers have power to control. Its impacts can so easily be mitigated through thrifting. While previous generations may have looked to fast fashion to develop their style, college students today can turn to thrift stores instead,” he says. The store, open weekdays, runs on donations from students, reducing waste by giving items a second life. Clothing that can’t be sold is sent to Arc Thrift Stores for textile recycling. Like their counterparts across the country, the DU Thrift Store has been inundated with donations since its opening. An endless sea of clothing-filled trash bags piled up during student move-out last year. All of it would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. “We get a lot of donations from brands like Shein—super cheap, low-quality clothes that people wear maybe twice and then get rid of,” Tonozzi says. Many of the donated items are brand new, with tags still attached. To combat overconsumption, the store limits students to one bag of donations a month. “We want to discourage people from constantly consum ing and donating. While donations are good, it shouldn’t be the expectation that you can buy a ton of clothes and then donate them to wash yourself of all guilt,” Fatemi-Badi says. Photo by Wayne Armstrong

22 | UNIVERSITY of DENVER MAGAZINE • SPRING/SUMMER 2023