Closet fashionistas
Volunteers transform Calgary warehouse into fashion central for disadvantaged teens.
In five weeks, dedicated volunteers transformed a former warehouse in Calgary’s southwest into an inviting retail space.
Walls were painted white, flooring was put down, donated retail fixtures were installed, change rooms were built, back lit mirrors were mounted and the space was decorated with artwork made by youth volunteers from recycled material.
And then, bags and bags of clothing for teens, which had been sitting in Lili Bunce’s basement, was sorted and displayed in the new space known as My Best Friend’s Closet.
The store, which opened in August, provides teen girls from low income homes with new outfits, including running shoes, a gym strip, socks, underwear, casual shoes, outerwear, pants, shirts, dresses and accessories.
The program was launched by Making Changes Association, which offers a Walk-In Closet program that provides business professional clothing and consultations to women with financial barriers.
After recognizing a “huge need” in Calgary to clothe teen girls, and stockpiling donations that didn’t quite fit the Walk-In Closet’s professional mandate, executive director Bunce is ecstatic about the non-profit’s new teen program and retail space.
The former warehouse is located a few doors down from the association’s existing space and the landlord generously agreed to give the organization a discounted rent.
Between the adult location and new teen spot, Making Changes has nearly 7,000 square feet of space to clothe the city’s low-income women and teens.
The free, fashionable and functional clothing gives the teens confidence and provides needed assistance for their parents, who are often in transition themselves and overwhelmed by the costs that come with teenagers.
“I have a 14-year-old daughter and I know how expensive it is to go back to school ... Back to school is a really, really difficult time for families generally, especially if you’re a single income family or a family where someone is transitioning, trying to get back into the workforce,” says Bunce, the organization’s only full-time staff member.
My Best Friend’s Closet — named through a contest on Making Change’s Twitter account — will see 125 teens aged 10 to 18 by the end of September. Bunce says the organization will aim to see 50 girls a month after that.
On a recent Saturday, 16 girls were booked for 90-minute appointments to the space, and volunteers — many of whom are girls themselves — acted as image consultants, carrying clothing to the store’s changing rooms and helping their fellow teens browse through racks of clothing, pick out outfits, accessorize and build a new wardrobe.
Between the teen space and adult program, nearly 200 volunteers donate their time to Making Changes, including 29-year-old Carly Smith, who started volunteering five years ago after completing education in fashion and design.
After years of helping adults piece together outfits, Smith says working at the new teen space, is refreshing.
“The girls bring great energy,” Smith says.
“It looks just like a store ... They come in and they get a true retail experience. They’re able to pick through and build their own outfits so they’re really able to express their personal style.”
Bunce says about 35 per cent of the organization’s clients are newcomer families, and volunteers like Smith help immigrant teens, who aren’t used to Calgary’s cold weather, learn to layer clothing while still looking fashionable.
Already, Bunce has been approached by teens who’ve used the program’s services and want to come back and volunteer. Because the space runs like a real retail store, volunteers receive retail and merchandising experience that looks great on a resume.
As the clock nears 10 and teens and their moms trickle into the space to shop on a sunny Saturday in September, Bunce says the entire program is about more than just having teens leave My Best Friend’s Closet with several fashionable outfits.
“If you have a little bit more confidence in terms of what you’re wearing, you can focus on a few of the other things you need to focus on as a young teenager,” she says.
My Best Friend’s Closet is seeking donations of new or gently used casual teen items, including new underwear, bras, socks and lace up running shoes. Donations can be dropped off at Making Changes at 6516- 1A Street S.W. or the ING downtown at 600 6th Ave. S.W.