Those are the moments when the University of Louisville’s “” steps in.

The university opened the permanent, on-campus resource earlier this year to ensure no student’s career path is blocked by a lack of access to professional clothing. Managed by the ��(SSC) and located in the , the no-cost shop offers suits, shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, ties, shoes, belts and bags in a variety of styles and sizes – all completely free to any current UofL student.

An official ribbon cutting was held Feb. 5. said the university has a “shared responsibility to remove barriers so every student regardless of background or circumstances can fully pursue their goals.”

“This space exists because our students were honest with us about what they needed to be confident,” she said. “The university believes success is more than course work. It’s about success. It’s about confidence. It’s about access.”

As students prepare for spring career fairs, the SSC aims to ensure they walk into interviews focused on their skills, not their clothes. The clothing resource is open Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. and is staffed by SSC student workers.

How it began

The closet represents an expansion of student support that grew out of a series of “pop-up” events. Charice Patterson in the said she saw the need as far back as 2020.

“I’ve always thought it would be nice to see a professional clothing closet on campus,” Patterson said. “And then we had a student employee in the Career Center who really took on the project to turn this wish list idea into reality.”

Natalie Hicks, a student in the , helped plan the original pop-ups. Hicks believes the resource fills a critical need for students balancing professional expectations with financial hurdles.

“Growing up first generation and low income, we can be overlooked and outsourcing for resources,” Hicks said. “In the business school, there is a lot of expectations on appearance, and it can be inaccessible for low-income students.”

The first pop-up event was so successful they “gave away almost everything,” eventually requiring three times the amount of donations to meet student demand for the second one. That response led to a collaboration between the Career Center and the SSC to establish a permanent home.

The power of partnership

Hire Attire now falls under the wider umbrella of services related to accessibility offered by the SSC. SSC Manager Josie Raymond helped lead the effort to get the resource established permanently.

“It’s been really fun to watch students come in, try on their first-ever suit and walk out feeling really confident,” Raymond said.

Other on-campus partners included the , which helped convert the previous storage space into a boutique-like atmosphere, and the which offers casual wear and gives the more professional pieces to Hire Attire.��

Community partners have donated attire and hosted donation drives, including C. E.& S. Foundation, DXL Big + Tall, Dress for Success Louisville, Omni Louisville and Portland Avenue Community Trust.

Supported by campus partners, local organizations and a growing network of donors, Hire Attire reflects what can happen when a community comes together for its students. It’s more than a clothing resource; it’s a collective investment in redefining student success.

For more information, .��

Now housed in a renovated 272-square-foot space at the rear of the Honors House, the move significantly boosts the store’s accessibility and impact.

“It makes a huge impact for students that either can’t afford or don’t have easy access to certain items, and it’s also just an incredible way to reduce waste on campus,” said Lilly Clagett, a third-year student who manages the store and is pursuing an individualized major in environmental sciences in the ��

Other highlights include a changing room with a bench for ADA accessibility and capacity for more volunteers. The new space was sponsored by , who has been a steadfast partner to the university in student enrichment. Additional support was provided by and the

What is the Free Store?

The store operates on a simple premise: any student with a Cardinal ID can walk in and take what they need, completely free. Items frequently include clothes, shoes, bedding and essential kitchen items. Students and staff can also donate to the store, arranging pick-up or bringing donations to the location. ��

The UofL Free Store originally launched in 2013 by the student organization ‘Group Recycling and Sustainable Solutions’ (GRASS), with the support of the UofL Sustainability Council and has steadily grown from its humble beginnings in Unitas Hall and its previous location in the Student Activities Center.

This initiative is part of UofL’s broader commitment to sustainability, evidenced by the university once again securing a place in the , with an impressive rating of 96/99.

Students can get involved in sustainability efforts on campus through:

• Fighting food insecurity and climate change by working with the
• Volunteering with the
• Managing the ; and
• Volunteering with the Free Store!

Learn more on the website and more on how to get involved on campus at the website.