In one of his sermons, The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. asserted that, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” The College of DuPage (COD)’s Fashion Club and staff have been taking that question to heart.
When it comes to the barriers of fashion, “Cost is the biggest one, [as well as] body and size inclusivity, cultural and social expectations, accessibility and easy access to sustainable fashion,” said Razeenah Khan, president of the Fashion Club.
Going shopping in 2026 is no joke. Prices on many everyday items like food, gas and clothing have been rising, especially after the 2025 tariffs took effect. Finding good clothing at a reasonable price can be especially hard for community college students, who often need to balance their time and finances with work and other responsibilities.
The Fashion Club, in conjunction with the Fashion Studies program and Field Studies/Study Abroad/Global Education Department, recently hosted the college’s first Clothing Swap. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, college students and staff picked seasonal and professional clothing from a wide range of offerings, all for free.
Clothing was gathered during a nearly month-long drive hosted throughout campus. Clothes left over from the event were handed off to SCARCE, a local environmental education nonprofit that provides resources to schools, teachers, and the community. Fashion Club Secretary Temo Garcia said the clothing drive and clothing swap event were a great success, and the club is planning to host the event again in upcoming semesters.
The Clothing Swap was part of the college’s Global Goals Series, which follows the Global Goals set by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect the planet. The fashion industry has one of the greatest impacts on the environment. It’s responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions, according to an analysis done by Business Insider. The EPA estimates that in the United States, 11.3 million tons of clothing and other textiles end up in landfills each year.
This was not the Fashion Club’s first foray into giving back to the community, Khan said. For the last four years, COD has hosted a Give and Take Rack, where students and staff are encouraged to donate old clothes and pick from the selection. Last year, the Fashion Club took over responsibility for the Give and Take Rack, adding signs that specify what is and is not allowed for donation and making sure the items available are both organized and in good condition.
“We want to help and have the best for the students here at COD,” said Anyelina Medina, vice president of the Fashion Club.
The Give and Take Rack is located outside the fashion department in the Student Resources Center, Room 1005. The rack is available anytime the campus is open, and students and staff are encouraged to give what they can and take what they need. The club only asks that those using the rack follow signage on what is not accepted. The club is looking for more men’s clothing to add to the rack, since the majority of donations are women’s clothing, and they want there to be something for everyone.
Students who are looking to up their fashion game should also be on the lookout for the upcoming Suit Up event on Sunday, April 28. Career Services will be offering 30% off coupons for formalwear between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the JCPenny in the Yorktown Shopping Center, in Lombard. Chaps who are interested can preregister for the event at bit.ly/codsuitup or walk in day-of; just be sure to bring your student ID to get the full discount.
COD has many resources available by and for its students and staff. Fashion Club members, in particular, are dedicating themselves to ongoing efforts to help their fellow students..
From Khan, “The Give and Take Rack and the free clothing event we participated in helped those who face barriers, and we value the people that have been helping us along the way.”
