Real Canadians: Alberta high school teachers set up fashion boutique for underprivileged students

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For many teenagers, fashion is more than clothing. It’s a way to express identity, fit in with peers and boost confidence. But for some families, buying clothes — let alone keeping up with the latest trends — is difficult when money is needed for essentials.

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At École Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School (LCHS) in Lacombe, Alta., two teachers are helping their students by establishing an inexpensive fashion boutique stocked with gently used clothing at their school. It’s making a difference for students and the community.

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“Growing up, I was a tomboy by necessity,” says Darcie Davis, a social studies and cosmetology teacher at the school. “I wore my brother’s hand-me-downs because I didn’t have anything else. I know what it feels like not to fit in because of the clothes you wear.”

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Davis sometimes felt ostracized as a teenager, and when she became a teacher, she noticed some of her students facing similar struggles. She approached school administrators about creating a boutique stocked with gently used clothing, but the school was full to capacity and there was no space for it.

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A couple of years later, another teacher, Julia Brotea, approached administration with the same idea. While affordability was a concern, Brotea was also motivated by environmental issues. She wanted to encourage students to choose second-hand clothing over fast fashion.

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“Honestly, I love second-hand stores,” says Brotea. “As a high school student, I used to shop at Value Village.”

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This time, the school had an empty office available, and the principal suggested Brotea connect with Davis. Together, the pair created the LCHS Boutique.

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Fashion with a Purpose

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The teachers transformed the office into a small clothing shop, filling it with donations from staff, students and community members. For a while, a local thrift store also contributed gently used name-brand clothing, shoes and accessories and now a nearby university is running a clothing drive for the venture.

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Students volunteer to sort, wash, fold and arrange the clothing. Each item costs just $2, and all proceeds go to charity. In the past, proceeds were used to support a community program providing food assistance to families during the holiday season. This year the plan is to use the funds to support microgrants for students who need financial assistance with course supplies, athletic fees, art materials and other needs.
But the boutique’s greatest impact may be the sense of normalcy it provides.

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“The great thing about this is there’s no stigma for students or staff who choose to shop at the boutique,” says Brotea. “It’s something fun they can do on their lunch break and another way to socialize. It’s normalizing the idea of purchasing and wearing second-hand clothing.”