NMU students swap clothing to promote sustainability

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University hosted a campus-wide Clothing Swap today to promote sustainability in everyday life.

Students, staff, faculty and community members dropped off clothing they no longer need and could trade clothing or take home items, even if they didn’t donate. Clothes left at the end of the day went to either NMU’s Career Closet, Disability Services or were donated to thrift stores.

This event is part of Sustainability Week, organized by a student sustainability peer-to-peer educator program called Eco Reps.

“Our goal is give students tools to implement sustainability in their own life,” said Olivia Walcott, co-founder of Eco Reps. “Whether that’s taking a coffee mug to their coffee shop instead of using a paper or plastic cup, so cutting down on their waste stream, or whether it’s clothing swaps and thrift stores to save money and not have such a huge impact on the environment.”

On Friday, Eco Reps is hosting Fix-It Friday, where volunteers will do quick fixes on clothing to promote a campus culture based on repairing, rather than throwing out. Fix-It Friday will be held in the Jamrich Hall Ticket Booth from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and it is open to the community.