The Loop; GW’s underrated gem
A staple of the Mount Vernon Campus at George Washington University is The Loop, a sustainable clothing exchange. The Loop opened just last year and was founded by Sustainability@GW, focused on lowering the cycle of consumption. The process goes as follows: students can donate items at any of the locations in Foggy Bottom or in The Loop at the Vern. These locations are found District House on the first floor hallway, Shenkman Hall and Amsterdam Hall in the lobbies, South Hall and Potomac House in the basements, and the Dorothy Williamson Clock Tower on MVC. The items will then be organized into their respective categories and put up at The Loop. It really is that simple! The Loop has all types of clothes: shirts, pants, dresses, shoes, and accessories. The Loop is open on Thursdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students who bring an item(s) to donate can take up to 10 items, while students who do not bring any items can take up to 5 items. You don’t pay for anything!
This new sustainable initiative at GWU does not exist in a vacuum, as there has been a growing interest in repurposing and wearing second-hand clothing over the past decade. According to the Associated Press, over 85% of the textiles discarded end up in landfills, with 40% of these textiles ending up in countries in the Global South, polluting these countries’ water sources. The consumption in the Global North hurts the Global South. Countries in the Global South are experiencing the effects of climate change more than ever before, with increased temperatures, water scarcity, and food insecurity. This is why recycling, donating, and lowering the overconsumption of clothing are better for our environment and our wallets, as second-hand clothes are cheaper than buying new.
The following is an item that my peers and I got from The Loop this year!Â
