Fashion Blog: Fashionably Giving Back to the Community

Students often underestimate the fashion scene at the University of Illinois for a number of reasons.  If you had to pinpoint the most common of these reason, it would probably be the obvious fact that we are in the middle of Champaign, IL.  Luckily, this small hindrance has worked in favor for the few fashion-focused registered student organization (RSO) on campus as they strive to give back to the Champaign-Urbana community and beyond.
 
For the past three years, the Business of Fashion at the University of Illinois has organized a clothing drive around Thanksgiving for local shelters.  Every year this campaign is a great success and shows that being a fashionable club doesn’t always mean wearing the latest trends; it includes looking out for others in our community to be appropriately dressed for the cold seasons. 
 
This past month, the Business of Fashion merged with another fashion RSO called I-Style.  As one student organization under the title of I-Style now, this club decided to initiate its first philanthropic endeavor with a fashion-related organization as its focus.  After much consideration and research, the student club decided to make their philanthropy project of the year “The Glass Slipper Project.”
 
The Glass Slipper Project (GSP) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago that gives used formal/prom dresses to high school girls who cannot afford a new dress on their special day.  This organization helps promote confidence in girls by using fashion as a tool for success.  As women, we can all agree that being dolled up for any occasion makes you feel like you can take on the world!
 

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I-Style plans to get their GSP campaign off the ground the first week of November and run until the last week of the semester.  For all of you sorority girls out there, keep GSP in the back of your mind as you begin to rummage your closets for semi-formal dresses.
 
If there is one thing that Illini women have shown the world, especially with our dominating unity in the Victoria’s Secret PINK party contest last semester, is that we can achieve anything when we work together for a common goal.  I urge every collegiette woman on our campus to find one dress that she will never wear again and donate it in order to make another young woman’s night a dream come true. 
 
This November when you are walking to class, take the minute to stop and read one of the many flyers detailing where to donate a dress for GSP and clothes for the Champaign shelter.  Although our fashion scene may be small on campus, it is continually making a stylish impact, whether in our community or somewhere else.