Shopping can be fun, especially if your money goes to a good cause like charity, or soothing your self-esteem. But you know what’s even more fun? Getting a really cool outfit for a really low price. A price as low as $1.
Doing a good deed and shopping while you’re at it? Sounds about right.
Kerry Szymanski, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale: "Every Tuesday in February we have ‘Trendy Traders,’ which is a clothing exchange."
At the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, a teacher started something big.
Kerry Szymanski: "I thought it was a great way to teach marketing and merchandising to my students, and to teach them about volunteering and giving back."
It’s all about donating and purchasing clothes and accessories.
Kerry Szymanski: "People can bring gently worn clothing from their closets, and it’s a great way to clean out your closets. We take men’s, women’s and kids’ clothing, infants, jewelry, purses and shoes. Anyone can come. Whether it’s students, staff, and even someone from the outside that lives in South Florida, are all more than welcome."
Exchange your worn clothes for theirs.
Kerry Szymanski: "If you bring five T-shirts, you can trade them for five items of anything, so it’s a great way to get some new clothes for free."
Or, put your dollar bills to good use.
Kerry Szymanski: "If not, you can shop, and everything is a dollar. At the end of the four weeks, we donate everything to the Covenant House for runaway teens."
Fashion students can help you put some great outfits together.
Kerry Szymanski: "The students are selling, the stylists are helping you pick out outfits. It’s younger, based on our students, and we have all different sizes, all different brands, so it’s a great way. We’ve had things from Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Coach, Forever 21, kind of a full gamut of brands that you can shop."
The students are happy to be part of the process.
Fitzroy Richards: "This is a way for people to trade and kinda give back to the community. All the profits go to a good cause."
Jessica Rossi: "You can find amazing things for one dollar. There is stuff that you can buy in the store and you really love it. So, I want it all."
FOR MORE INFO:
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
1799 S.E. 17th St.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 463-3000