“We aim to attack fast fashion and destroy it,” says president of MC’s new Fashion Club
In the era of Shein, Amazon and Temu dominating “Back to School Hauls” on TikTok, Maryville College students are trying out a new way to express themselves while sustaining the Earth.
“Fashion is more than just a form of self expression, it is also a language of self definition,” said Eden Carnes (‘27), the social media manager of MC’s brand new Fashion Club.
“Our goals are to showcase sustainability, show ways to upcycle and mend garments, and provide a space where people can explore fashion and clothing,” added Treasurer Josh Cornell (‘26).
Maryville College is notoriously committed to bettering the environment. With the integration of Fit.Green.Happy. in everyday life on campus, the founders of Fashion Club are striving to save the Earth one upcycled shirt at a time.
“We are so excited to have Jackie Eul, the program director of Fit.Green.Happy., and her mentorship because she brings experience with sustainability, recycling and upcycling” Carnes said.
Molly Bailey (‘26), president of Fashion Club, was first inspired to found this club when she wanted to find other people on campus that were interested in knitting, and the idea then evolved to general interest in fashion.
“Right away I saw this as an opportunity to form something where students could come together and feel connected with people that have the same hobbies,” Bailey said.
“We are offering a new outlook on fashion at MC. We want to provide a reason for people to put on the clothes that they were just saving for a special occasion,” added Vice President Lily Little (‘27).
Lack of confidence is an epidemic impacting the daily life of Gen Z, and is another thing Fashion Club hopes to combat. Doom-scrolling on Instagram, zooming in on model’s posts and the constant competition of Snapchat plagues the mental health of young adults today.
Confidence and fashion means a lot to Carnes. “During high school, I fell into the trap of thinking that I could fit in if I blended in. I dressed in things that were at odds with my true personality,” she said.
“Eventually, I realized that enough was enough and that I would rather dress in a way that made me happy than what I thought would make other people accept me. I started wearing crazy colors, bold accent pieces, retro and vintage clothing. I began upcycling and altering clothes. I let my creativity spill over into my wardrobe. The result? I was so much happier and confident. Dealing with anxiety, especially social anxiety, can make it hard to want to stand out. However, I have found that by dressing in the personality I want to be, I can let go of a lot of those insecurities.”
The Fashion Club states in agreement that “Fashion club is for everyone, and is a safe space to completely express yourself. Fashion Club, we all want to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and we want to make sure that this club is accessible and inclusive to anyone and everyone here at Maryville College. This club is a stepping stone into self expression.”
“I’m not sure if there is any better way to express yourself than what you wear,” said Cornell. “I feel like confidence is what makes fashion stick. It’s as simple as a group of people saying that this outfit or article of clothing makes me feel comfortable and confident while just doing everyday activities.”
The Fashion Club teases future events on campus with the simple statement: “Stay tuned.” There is talk about hosting fashion shows, collaborating with the Maryville College Theatre program’s costume department for classes on mending, and demonstrating how thrifting clothes can change the trajectory of the environment.