Thrifty Tigers show what sustainability looks like at TU

Fast fashion allows brands to keep up with online trends and provide clothing at low prices. However, the speed and price come at the cost of quality and sustainability. Shopping at thrift stores reduces clothing waste and supports local businesses.

Students at TU are working to educate and promote what sustainability looks like on campus. Members of TU’s Thrifty Tigers club took a trip on April 11 to shop at Uptown Cheapskates and Savers. They also learned about local shops and discussed thrifting, fashion and sustainability.

Thrifty Tigers

Thrifty Tigers is a student organization focused on sustainable fashion and responsible consumption habits. The club hopes to bring students interested in thrifting together to discuss sustainability and current fashion trends. They host club meetings, volunteering events, clothing swaps, outfit repair workshops, nature walks and trips to local thrift stores.

Two students at Uptown Cheapskate, the first stop on the Thrift Store Bus Tour

This past fall, the Office of Sustainability piloted its first Thrift Store Bus Tour in collaboration with Thrifty Tigers. They chartered two buses and visited three local thrift stores, including Plato’s Closet.

“We partnered with the Office of Sustainability for this event because it's great for community building and shows that sustainability is important to young people,” says Hailey Ensor, senior mass communication major and co-president of Thrifty Tigers. “I'm hoping that over time, people within the university and beyond can use the values of our club to make a change for the better.”

Supporting local businesses

The reaction from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with students suggesting more frequent trips. The tour also supports the local community.

“If you keep your money in the local economy, that money goes right back into your community,” says Beth Schap, outreach coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. “The whole idea of the tour is showing students what's around the neighborhood and in the local community. It's nice to see that those businesses believe in what we're doing and believe in our students.”

Group of Tigers outside their first stop on the Thrift Store Bus Tour, Uptown Cheapskate

Sustainability on campus 

TU is committed to sustainable practices, responsible management and efficient use of resources in all aspects of the campus experience.

"The Office of Sustainability hosts events to show the greater community that students do care about the environment," Schap says. "They care that it's a healthy and thriving place for everyone."

In 2025, TU was awarded a gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and the Princeton Review ranks TU among the top 50 institutions nationwide for sustainability policies, practices and programs. 

Since 2007, TU has committed to building all new construction projects to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standards. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, standards provide a framework for identifying and implementing measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

 

---

Upcoming events 

Join the Office of Sustainability in celebrating Earth Month with events throughout April and beyond. Students can take part in cleanups, outdoor activities, educational programs and special events that highlight ways to care for the environment.

• Impact TU: On April 18, student volunteers will participate in a stream cleanup at Glen Arboretum as a part of Impact TU from 9:00–2:00 p.m. Waste collected during the cleanup will be used in an Earth Day celebration activity. 
• Drop, Swap, and Shop: On 4/20 on the WVC Lawn, 4/21 in the Glen Plaza and 4/22 on Newell Field, the University Residence Government and the Basic Needs HUB will host a free "shop" and clothing repair event. Students can donate and grab clothes while learning about sewing, patching, sustainability and garment maintenance.
• Earth Day Birthday Celebration: Using waste collected from the Glen Arboretum clean up during Impact TU, make a cake out of trash on April 22 from 4:00–7:00 p.m for Baltimore's very own Mr. Trash Wheel! The cake will be presented at Mr. Trash Wheel's 12th Birthday Celebration on April 25, at Public Works Experience.
• Grow Your Network: Join us for a plant-forward, intercollegiate networking event featuring Johns Hopkins, Loyola University and the University of Maryland on April 30 at the Carrie Murray Nature Center from 4:30–7:30 p.m.
• Thrifty Tigers Swap: On May 5, Thrifty Tigers is hosting a clothing swap where students can trade clothes with other members. Any extra clothes will be donated to the HUB on campus.