The school’s first-ever Sustainable Fashion Show kicked off on Oct. 10, transforming the Chorale Room into a runway to showcase thrifted and second-hand outfits. The event held on by the Sustainable Fashion Club, aimed to present the beauty and versatility of sustainable clothing to the Upper School (US) community, according to Co-Presidents Leena Wong and Adia Smith (both ’25).
The fashion show was inspired by Thrifty Threads, a consignment store in Brookline. The organization collects donated clothing and redistributes it to thrift stores and charities, helping used items find a second home. Leena said volunteering at Thrifty Threads also motivated her and Adia to hold a two-week-long clothing drive with US students.
“Initially, we knew we wanted to do a clothing drive this year, but we were unsure of the details until we both started volunteering at Thrifty Threads.”
When planning, Leena and Adia wanted to ensure that the event would highlight the possibilities of second-hand clothing.
“The fashion show included avariety of thrifted clothing and styles,” Leena said. “We wanted to show people how diverse reusable clothing can be. We hope after this event, people will realize all the positives of sustainable clothing.”
The event also aimed to inspire individuality among students. Through experimenting with thrifted pieces, students can express their personal styles rather than conforming to mainstream trends, Leena said.
“It would be great if we could expand BB&N students’ mindset on thrifted clothing. You can find unique pieces that no one else has.”
Adia agreed, encouraging others to get creative with fashion.
“All the outfits we’re showing are so cute, and we want to make it a more widespread thing.”
The pieces in the show were purchased from second-hand stores or bought from resellers on sites like Depop, Poshmark, or Ebay. Typical prejudices held against second-hand clothing are misguided, Adia said.
“People might see thrifted clothing as something old or dirty, but they might not realize you can get clothing that is brand new with tags that doesn’t necessarily have to be second-hand.”
The student models displayed a diverse range of outfits in various categories, Adia said.
“We hope people realize how versatile shopping second-hand can be. We were able to find a skiing outfit, a day-to-day streetwear outfit, and a gardening outfit. You can see the extent of how the wide range of second-hand shopping can be, and I guarantee you will find something you like.”
While styling outfits, the organizers tried to showcase the models’ individual styles through their looks, Adia said.
“When choosing the models’ outfits, we tried our best to tailor it to each person and the style we envisioned for them.”
One model for the show, Skye Moller ’25, walked in a ski outfit featuring a puffer coat with earmuffs. Skye hopes that the audience was able to learn about thrifting.
“I hope people can realize that thrifted clothing can be so many things, and there’s so many different categories they can fill.”
The backstage experience was particularly special, Skye said.
“I liked seeing the behind-the- scenes of the event and how everything was put together, and I really enjoyed preparing for the show.”
Allison Wang ’25, another model who sported a gardening outfit with thrifted overalls and a crochet top, emphasized the importance of shopping second-hand for environmental concerns.
“It’s much more sustainable, and I hope the audience is inspired to go thrifting for clothes as well.”
Erica Biner ’25 stepped in last minute to model a green prom dress. She said she was impressed by the community she found at the event.
“Everyone was so willing to be a part of it and push themselves out of their comfort zone. I think thrifted clothing is amazing not only for the environment, but it turns someone’s trash into someone else’s treasure.”
