Cultivated clothes, cheap cost, climate conscious: University Street Market
In a world polarized by expensive designer clothes and fast fashion, it can be hard to strike a balance between what looks good, what is affordable and what isn’t going to be tossed away in a year.
Many students have already discovered the joys of thrifting, diving head first into their local Goodwill clearance rack for their next three-dollar, oversized T-shirt. However, many may struggle to find the time for digging through a couple antique stores, looking for the right piece.
The University Street Market (USM) is helping students find that balance, and it's right in the center of campus.
“As a college student, buying good quality clothes on a tight budget can be challenging. That’s when thrifting comes into picture. I feel like thrifting is a way around it,” Riva Surana, USM President studying journalism and mass communication and marketing, stated.
Surana promotes thrifting as not only a cost effective alternative, but one that can cultivate style.
“Thrifting is all about having the ‘eye’ for good quality pieces,” Surana said. “Once you develop the patience and skill to actually look through the vast collections that thrift stores offer, you can very easily identify clothes with style and quality.”
More so, Surana looks to promote another aspect of thrifting: Sustainability.
“Think of it like borrowing clothes from a stranger,” Surana explained. “Instead of throwing away the clothes - they end up in thrift stores where other people come and buy them, maintaining that circulation. Moreover, once you start thrifting, you move away from fashion brands. This helps create a sustainable system.”
“We aim to spread awareness regarding sustainability, particularly in the fashion space,” Surana continued. “We came together to change the narrative and fight the negative stigma around thrifting culture,” Surana said. “As the president of USM at ASU my role is to bring together people from different disciplines under the single umbrella of sustainable fashion.”
Surana and the USM have been doing much to promote the positive aspects of thrifting to Sun Devils on campus. With consistent events and brand-name partnerships such as Buffalo Exchange, the USM has been providing a central place for students to experience prime thrifting culture.
“We host bi-weekly meetings and markets to facilitate various activities that educate our members on sustainable fashion,” Surana said. “Our goal is not just to inform about the problem but encourage members to contribute toward sustainability and play their part in saving the planet.”
Surana reflected on how far the organization has come in a short amount of time, noting the Sun Devil community’s positive response.
“Just one month into being a student organization, we partnered with Poshmark,” Surana explained.
“This partnership has allowed us to strategize and host such fun and impactful meetings and events like moodboard making, an upcycling workshop and a pop-up shop,” Surana continued.
“I would say our most memorable moment was our first ever meeting back in September. We organized a styling competition and over 40 people attended. We were so overwhelmed with the support that the fashion community at ASU had given us and is giving us to this day”
From this support USM continues to bring high-quality, thrifted outfits straight to the heart of Tempe campus, for students of any style to enjoy.
“At our markets, you’ll find absolutely any style you please,” Surana stated. “That’s the beauty of thrifting! We are not a retail brand, so we don’t have a specific product line with a specific aesthetic like Aritzia or Victoria’s Secret. As a fashion organization we encourage students to find their own styles and our markets cater to all the different styles.”
For more information check out the USM on Instagram and follow their events on Sun Devil Sync.