Fashion at Fort Lewis, a Registered Student Organization, hosted a Fashion Thrift at 9 a.m. on Oct. 2, at the Student Union Plaza.

The welcome sign to the Campus Thrift Market in the Student Union Plaza.

The Fashion at Fort Lewis RSO collaborated with multiple local businesses to bridge a gap between students, community, and local businesses with fashion, club president Kiki Walden said. 

“It’s not just for promotion for the businesses, but it's also a way to create a big circle to the town as a whole rather than just the campus,” Walden said. 

The local businesses consisted mainly of thrift stores, consignment stores, and local clothing resellers, she said.

Businesses such as Lizard Head Trading Company, Durango Outdoor Exchange, Second Time Around, Small Town Aristocrat, and the La Plata Human Society were present, Walden said. 

Most booths had many deals, whether it was 50% off all, buy one get one free, fill a bag for $5, and more, Walden said. 

A few of the booths at the thrift market with discount sales.

Each table had to pay a $10 vendor fee which had all been put back to the club's budget, Walden said. 

“This was our first time doing an event like this,” Avery Hoff, the club’s event director said. 

“We want to promote sustainable fashion, whether it is recycled or secondhand," Hoff said. 

The Fashion at Fort Lewis RSO is planning a sustainable clothing swap event for the spring semester, they are hoping for February or March, Hoff said. 

The club is also planning a historical fashion show, where participants will present clothing from a certain era, teach about the history behind the clothing and whether it was a political reason, a shift in technology, or social rules that created a change in the industry, Hoff said. 

“Fashion is not about being high class, having to spend a lot of money, or being environmentally detrimental," said Walden. "You don’t need to be stylish to be a part of our club. Whether you're a gamer, an athlete, theater, etc., you are welcomed.”