My Mission:
Winston Churchill once said, “Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.”
It’s with a similar spirit that I wanted to be a part of Goodwill’s Rock the Runway Fashion show. From the moment I heard about the project, I knew I had to be a part of it.
Being raised in Oregon, literally living in a Deli, my parents worked hard to give me all they could manage. The fact is, we didn’t have much money and my parents were both very busy with the store. Sometimes on the weekends my mom would take me into the next town for a little retail therapy. Those weekends were my favorite because we’d go to a special store called Goodwill and I could pick out anything I wanted!
I loved digging through the racks and finding pleated skirts like my hero- Sailor Moon wore. One time I even found a shirt with a real sailor collar- boy, that was the best find! At the end of the day my mom and I always left having found some real treasures in the store and, more importantly, in our time together.
At the time, I didn’t know the clothing was previously owned. I honestly thought that Goodwill was just like JC Penny, but with a greater selection. As I grew of course, I realized Goodwill’s mission. What I now love most, besides finding hidden treasures, is Goodwill’s effort to help employ people throughout the community.
Presently I attend UNCG majoring in their Consumer Apparel and Retail Studies program. I am always surprised when I find fellow students who are buried in loans that believe themselves to be above thrifting.
So, my mission in this Rock the Runway challenge is to open up the consumer mindset. I think many people, even those who frequent Goodwill, see their purchases as a necessity resulting from a lower income. I have always seen shopping at Goodwill as an opportunity for creativity and innovation. Goodwill shopping is an art form that is in my blood. This company has enabled me not only to express myself and my own creativity, it facilitated the strong bond I have with my mother as well as my community.
My process:
I’ve already begun shopping for the Rock the Runway show and while I don’t want to divulge all of my secrets and treasures, I thought I would share some of my shopping process.
So, when I go into a Goodwill store I go straight to the women’s dress section. I know this is where I will be able to find the bulk of my items because of how much fabric dresses give me to work with. Dresses also provide interesting notions like
buttons, zippers and appliqués. I try to look for vintage and retro patterns, designs and fabrics. I think that these are the most fun to work with. I also try to keep an eye out for are garments with interesting fabrics like lace or stretch velvet.
Since I am putting together a 7 piece collection, I try to look for similar colors. I have sketched out a few ideas, but for the most part, I’m not sure about what I’ll be able to make until I have all my purchases in front of me.
Here I’ve included a pile of garments that I purchased this weekend. I wanted to show you some of the colors, patterns and textures I plan to work with. I can’t wait to show you what I come up with! Until next time, my name is Rachel Wilson and I plan to Rock the Runway!