Wayne State University will soon launch the Warrior Wardrobe, a new initiative to provide gently used clothing to students, free of charge. The Warrior Wardrobe is set to open later this fall and is currently in need of donations.

Members of the campus community are invited to drop off their gently used clothing in a drop box located on the first floor of the Welcome Center. The Warrior Wardrobe is specifically in need of outerwear, multipacks of new underwear and new socks, as well as any kind of maternity or plus-size clothing. All donations are tax-deductible. 

 “Wayne State’s goal is for all of our students to be successful — in and outside of the classroom — and we’re constantly working together to eliminate any potential barriers to that success,” said Provost Keith Whitfield. “The Warrior Wardrobe will be a great addition to our growing campus resources.”

The Warrior Wardrobe will be operated by student volunteers and will include two separate locations: 

• The Career Cube for business attire — including dress shirts, dress pants, suiting and other professional clothing — will be located in the Career Services Office in FAB.
• The Casual Closet for more casual wear — including jeans, sweatshirts, T-shirts and other casual clothing — will be located in room 202 of the Welcome Center.  

“The Warrior Wardrobe is another way for our campus community to come together in support of our students  and to help our students feel at home here,” said Dawn Medley, associate vice president for enrollment management. “When you clean out your closets or replace pieces in your wardrobe, we want you to think of this resource as a first-choice option for donations.” 

The initiative is a collaborative effort, led by Enrollment Management, Career Services, the Dean of Students Office and the Office of the Provost. The program fits into the broader Warrior Life and Wellness initiative, a collaborative effort of on- and off-campus resources focused on building a healthy community for all students through programming and events focused on the eight dimensions of wellness: emotional, financial, physical, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, occupational and social.

“We want to meet as many of our students’ needs as we can, so we’re excited to be able to offer this as another campus resource,” said Sarah Weinstein, assistant director of scholarships and awards in the Office of Student Financial Aid. “No one should have to worry about having clothes to go to class.”

In addition to providing free, gently used casual attire, the Warrior Wardrobe will help students in need as they transition into their professional careers.

“It can be challenging — and expensive — to find the right clothing for a job interview or a professional networking event,” said Susan Crowley, university counselor in Career Services. “We don’t want students in need to have to worry about that. We’re going to help them focus on making the most of those opportunities without having to worry about what they’ll wear.” 

Additional information about the Warrior Wardrobe locations, including opening dates and operating hours, will be shared in the coming weeks.

“Wayne State's spirit is demonstrated by collaborative efforts like these to help our students,” said David Strauss, dean of students. 

To learn more about the Warrior Wardrobe — and inquire about what items are acceptable for donation — contact Sarah Weinstein at 313-577-4957 or sarah.weinstein@wayne.edu.