Illinois State University’s commitment to sustainability is on full display on a chilly January afternoon in the heart of campus.
On the main floor of Illinois State’s Office of Sustainability is the Share Shop, a resource-sharing store where students and community members can find everything from clothing to housewares to school supplies. In an adjoining space, student workers are preparing for Fix it Friday, a service also open to students and the greater community, offering repairs to clothing and other items. All of it is free.
“What we’re doing here is all done with our sustainability goals in mind,” said Elisabeth Reed, director of the Office of Sustainability. “Educating students and getting them to think about it outside of the classroom, how they are living their lives—that’s really what the Share Shop and Fix it Friday are all about.”
As customers browse the Share Shop offerings, they’re assisted by Maeve Rattin, a junior marketing major from Libertyville who serves as store manager.
“Shopping secondhand shouldn’t have a stigma around it. It’s for everyone,” Rattin said. “I love working here because I’m passionate about sustainability.”
Rattin’s work is like any other retail job. She opens the store, puts out signs, and turns on music. She folds clothes and arranges merchandise. She answers customer questions. She often needs to remind them everything is free.
Customers usually leave satisfied. “We had a student come in once who had a big presentation and they needed a tie,” Rattin told. “We weren’t even open yet, but the students here were able to help him out and get him a tie—they even tied it for him.”
A room just steps away is outfitted with sewing machines, pin cushions, and a large glass jar filled with buttons of every size and color. Three student workers are there awaiting customers. Among them is Fix it Friday coordinator Hannah Oesch ’22, a graduate of Illinois State’s fashion merchandising program now pursuing a master’s degree. The Crystal Lake native minored in environmental business and sustainability, making her uniquely qualified to serve in the role.
“I’ve always loved fashion, but sustainability became one of my core values as I learned about the industry and how polluting it is,” Oesch said.
The student staff performs simple repairs, mending holes and reattaching buttons. Customers fill out a form and leave their items. The staff sends them a text message when finished. Most repairs are to clothes, but odd items like stuffed animals and dog toys occasionally come through the door. “It’s really fun when a kid comes in and asks, ‘Hey, can you fix this?’” Oesch said.
The work is fulfilling because customers are excited when they pick up items returned to their former glory.
“When I leave work, I always feel better than when I came in,” Oesch said. “It’s a good place to work.”
The Share Shop is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., during the fall and spring semesters. Fix it Friday is open the same hours on Fridays. Donations are accepted year-round, and the shop is actively seeking Redbird apparel. More information is available at Sustainability.IllinoisState.edu.
