Nearly 100 items were donated during the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media “Clothing Call” to establish a Career Closet, which will provide professional and performance clothing for CCAM students at no charge.
On February 28, students from the WVU School of Art and Design accepted new and gently used professional clothing and performance wear at three locations – the Canady Creative Arts Center, Martin Hall and The Retail Lab on High Street, where the closet will be housed.
“I’d heard and seen the closets established in other colleges and I had a short-term goal to create one that could address the unique needs for our college’s students,” said Danica Ryan, CCAM’s Career Development Specialist.
Students collected clothing at three locations across the CCAM campus.
At the suggestion of Associate Dean of Research and Creative Activity Mikylah Myers, Ryan worked with Daphne Carrol, manager at The Retail Lab, and Elizabeth Shorrock, a teaching assistant professor with the Fashion Design and Merchandising program, to make the closet a reality.
“They eagerly jumped in, and we planned our first ‘Clothing Call”’ with the anticipation of spring cleaning being around the corner,” Ryan said. “Everyone in the CCAM community came together to make this happen, and it made my heart so happy to see and hear from everyone who donated items.”
During the clothing call, students collected blouses, dress pants, blazers, suits, dresses, shoes, dress shirts, ties and skirts. Ryan said items are continuously arriving and the value of the collected clothing items is currently $7,900. This collection is the first of what CCAM students, faculty and staff hope will be a continuous source for students who need to dress for interviews, presentations and performances.
“I wanted the closet to be easily accessible with no hoops for students to jump through,” Ryan said. “I love the idea of students getting a personal shopping experience in the store with help from student employees and Daphne to put items together. All a student needs to do is say to me is, ‘Danica, I need something to wear,’ and I’ll connect them to a great free resource and experience that will make them feel confident when they have their big moment.”
The CCAM Career Closet is currently accepting donations of suit jackets, blouses and shirts, dress pants, dresses, belts, ties, gently worn shoes and accessories. CCAM students are also in need of gowns, tuxedos and tail-coat tuxedos for concert performances. The clothes should be in good to excellent condition and in line with today’s fashion. Items can be dropped off at The Retail Lab on Thursdays from 2-7 p.m. and Fridays from 11-7 p.m. Other drop arrangements can be made by emailing Daphne Carrol at wvuretaillab@gmail.com.
For more information on donating to or utilizing the Career Closet, contact Danica Ryan at danica.ryan@mail.wvu.edu or The Retail Lab at wvuretaillab@gmail.com.