Gabriel Gonzalez

Student Life Editor

Ever struggle to look for appropriate clothing for your job or interview? Have you ever needed a professional outfit that you just couldn’t afford? If so, Top Threads is for you.

With inflation on the rise, saving money for necessities is more important than ever; especially for the average college student. Between tuition, dorms, books and gas if you’re a commuter, the bills can run high.

When students in the education department needed professional clothing for their field, faculty noticed. That’s why Caroline DiPipi-Hoy, associate professor of special education, and Michelle LaBadie, adjunct for the special education department, decided to create Top Threads.

Beginning in Oct. 2022 with a grant from ESU, they acquired racks, hangers and storage for incoming donations. Then Dr. Gina Scala, education department chair, approved of the space in Stroud Hall, room 107. Though it started and is run by the special education department and students, the organization is open to all students of all majors for volunteering and acquiring donations.

And it’s been a success. From 2022-2023, 317 items have been taken from the closet, averaging 63 items per month.

Yale studies have shown that “dress for success” isn’t just advice, but a valuable rule. In a 2014 study, Yale set up 128 aged from 18-32 in mock business dealings. Split down three ways–well-dressed, neutrally dressed, poorly dressed–the neutral group made 75 percent of what the well-dressed profited. And the poorly dressed group dropped in profitability to only 32 percent. With such a staggering difference, it’s no wonder that interviewers place high value in physical appearance. It isn’t just “dress for success,” it’s “dress if you want to succeed.”

However, Top Threads doesn’t offer their services for just interviews. You can find tasteful, professional attire for student organization events, internships, class presentations and general workplace environments.

What’s donated? Almost everything: shoes, socks, suits, dress pants, jeans, scarves, jewelry, ties, shirts, undershirts and more.

Who can donate? Anyone. Top Threads secures donations from other schools partnered with the Department of Education, faculty and staff members, community members and students. Donations are taken in Stroud Hall, room 105, and can be anonymously dropped off as long as the clothes are washed and sealed within bags.

Is there a limit to what one can take? No. Sometimes they even have overloads. The closet is free to roam without supervision, allowing anonymity for students who want a stigma-free browsing experience. All a student has to do to take something is fill out the form available within the closet, marking down how many items and what type of items were taken. Bags are provided from behind the door. No names are required and leaving an email is optional. All they ask is that the hangers be left and that, if the clothes do not fit, you bring them back or give them to someone else–preferably who needs it.

Here are some anonymous testimonials from satisfied students:

”Thank you very much for opening Top Threads for me today. I was able to get a few key pieces that I could turn into multiple outfits. Now I can’t wait to wear them!” says an education major starting fieldwork.

Another writes, “Thank you, thank you, thank you! It was a big help to be able to find things to wear for my interview.”

“I had a presentation for class and was able to find a suit! This was a big help!” adds another.

With such glowing praise, it’s no wonder that so many go to Top Threads for their professional needs.

“If there’s something you need and we don’t have it, let us know,” says Professor DiPipi-Hoy. “The inventory is always changing.”