BUCKY'S BOUTIQUE IS NOW OPEN!

By Alexandra Bello & Lizbeth Viera

Barry University has celebrated the grand opening of “Bucky’s Boutique," a new thrift store that on campus that will serve students all year-round. The boutique is designed to help students have access to quality, second-hand clothing. Students have options from casual wear to lounge in their dorms with, or professional button-ups to help them look good for their first days in class. The event on Sept. 4 was an opportunity for students to come in and shop at the boutique to explore the “career closet” where they can get business and professional clothing to use for job interviews.

"Varvana Osychenko, a junior at Barry, finding business attire in the new thrift store" Photo Credit to Alexandra Bello

Throughout the day, students stopped by to explore the new store, with many already walking out with new finds. Given the overwhelming crowd response, what began as a temporary pop-up shop now has the potential to serve Barry students for years to come. Bucky’s Boutique is the result of years of effort and collaboration, promoting sustainability and fighting fast fashion. “It was really started by a student, Virginia Rivas, who was very passionate about fighting fast fashion, reducing textile waste,” said Kativon Makary, the community resources coordinator.

Fast fashion has become a big issue and is a large contributor to the rise of environmental waste and climate change. Most of the garments made for these fast fashion companies are made of cheap and non-biodegradable materials that eventually end up in landfills. Apart from the environmental impact, most of these factories where the clothing is made operate under very unethical labor practices.

Director of Community Outreach at Barry University Roberto Roa has said, "We hope that students learn the value of sustainable fashion. Obviously, we want them to get great clothes and be able to share with their peers, but we also want them to understand that their decisions in terms of what they consume and what they purchase contributes to either a society that wastes more or wastes less."

Photo Credit to Pexels

Bucky’s Boutique is now open to all Barry students and staff every Wednesday to Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. in Thompson 227.

At the Career and Experiential Learning Center, students must meet with a career counselor who helps create a plan for their future, setting up “milestones” they can check off with their counselor to keep them on the right track.

Simeon Ferguson, a graduate assistant in the Career and Experiential Learning Center said the Career Closet is housed on one side of the boutique "so what they can expect is career wear ready for things like interviews, internships, anything job related.”

Aside from shopping, the boutique is looking for students who are willing to volunteer their time. Due to the sheer number of donations coming in, Bucky’s Boutique needs a hand in labeling, stocking, and organizing its clothes, shoes, and accessories. If interested, students can contact Kativon Makary from Campus Ministry and Community Outreach.

Want to help, but can’t volunteer? No problem! Students are also allowed to donate any clothes they don’t want. Donations can be dropped off to Makary, who is located in Thompson 211F.

"Juniors Kaiya Allain and Kaylah Dukes as well as senior K’Ann Robinson are volunteer cashiers at Bucky’s Boutique" Photo Credit to The Buccaneer Staff

As the Barry community welcomes “Bucky’s Boutique,” it is important to remember that this is not just a thrift store for students to go shopping, this serves as a hub for career development and sustainability. This store will not only have an impact on students who are currently attending Barry, but the future of the University.