Abstract
Topper Thrift is a small, student-led thrift store located within the Gary E. West College of Business at West Liberty University (WLU). The store originated from the Wear it Wise Campaign event hosted by West Liberty University Net Impact Chapter on Earth Day in 2022, where students swapped clothes. Unlike traditional businesses, various enthusiastic individuals and varied class projects drove Topper Thrift’s development. In 2024, the university approved the store to hire student employees, leading to the creation of a formal organizational structure. Topper Thrift’s mission is to provide WLU Stakeholders with affordable, student-driven access to quality second-hand essentials, and its vision is to be a cornerstone of the West Liberty community, providing affordable essentials to WLU stakeholders while fostering a thriving campus community and inspiring conscious consumption. Driven by its values of student empowerment, sustainability, community, affordability, and innovation, the store has been a cornerstone for experiential learning and project-based learning, where students not only witness amount of clothing that are diverted from the landfill, but also able to quantify cost savings and positive community and environment impact of buying second hand clothing. Additionally, Topper Thrift continues to be a learning space where students are learning about sustainability practices, business management, marketing, accounting, and professional skills. This study highlights the impact of Topper Thrift on three areas of sustainability: social, economic and environment.
Presenters
Vishakha MaskeyProfessor, College of Business, West Liberty University, West Virginia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Economic, Social, and Cultural Context
KEYWORDS
Sustainable Fashion, Fast Fashion, Culture shift, Sustainable Behavior, Sustainability Education
