Green Council Thrift Store

Written by: Hazel Zhang Han (26S79)

Edited by: Ooi Khe Sheen (26S6F)

In Term 2 Week 5, Green Council collaborated with SSVP Shop to set up a pop-up thrift store at the AOC. This was done in commemoration of Earth Week, where Green Council hoped to reduce waste produced by the fast-fashion consumerism culture. 

Thrift store set-up. Green Council

Item prices ranged from $5 to $15 (with some exceptions), and a wide variety of outfits were sold. Students could thrift a brand “new” set of formal clothing for interviews and internships, or casual fits for daily occasions. 

"The primary purpose of the thrift store was to give usable, second hand products a new lease of life," said Gawin Ng (26A15), Secretary-treasurer of Green council. The thrift store pop-up, cohosted with RSVP Singapore to commemorate Earth Week, exemplifies the Green Council's commitment to sustainability by promoting a culture of thrifting for secondhand clothes.

Reflecting on the success of the pop up, Denise Lim (26S79), Vice-President of Green council, remarked that it “definitely was a huge one”. “Our bestselling items were football jerseys, all of which were completely sold out. It was really rewarding to see that our pop-up was well received by fellow Hwa Chongians.” By giving these clothes a second life, every purchase helped to encourage environmentally conscious and sustainable shopping. 

Football jerseys sold. Green Council

When asked about the plans for future thrift store pop-up initiatives, Green Council mentioned expanding their menswear section.“ We’ll try our best to offer a wider selection of formal attire to make the pop-up even more enjoyable and inclusive for everyone,” Denise concluded.

To sum up, this meaningful initiative has brought about positive and tangible effects to Hwa Chong, allowing everyone the chance to play their part in promoting sustainability.