The first annual Closets Collide clothing swap will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Jeff’s Pizza Shop, 2402 Lincoln Way.

Students and community members are invited to bring clean, quality clothes to Jeff’s and may pick out one piece of clothing for each item they donate to the swap. Free pizza will be available for participants and donations for local shelters will be accepted.

Kelsey Leighton, senior in apparel merchandising, design and production, wrote a proposal for the event as part of her English 250 class. The assignment was to come up with a plan of action that involved the campus and Ames community.

“I researched clothes swapping because it’s becoming more and more trendy on the east and west coasts,” Leighton said. “There are parties and fashion shows that showcase swapping. It’s something that is turning into a glamorous event that doesn’t cost a lot of money. I wanted to try it on a smaller scale.”

Although Leighton said the event has not been overly pricey, she is paying expenses out-of-pocket.

“I paid for advertising, T-shirts for volunteers, and I will pay for the pizza everyone eats,” Leighton said. “I’ve been so fortunate to receive discounts and donations from Ames businesses.”

Leighton contacted Jeff’s Pizza, and the business donated half its dining area and offered discounted slices of pizza, manager Drew Batisa said.

The Loft, a consignment shop geared toward college-aged students, advertised the clothing swap in its store and donated coupons as well as body busts for the clothing, said owner Eric Abrams.

Abrams and his wife, Amy, opened The Loft after they saw the need for “trendy consignment” in the Ames community.

“Students were taking their clothes to Des Moines to sell and buy less expensive clothes,” Abrams said. “There was a market for discounted, quality clothing in Ames. We’ve been looking to do an event like [Closets Collide] for a long time and are excited to be involved.”

Like those at The Loft, Leighton thinks the college crowd is at a disadvantage, because clothing is expensive and students do not typically have money to spend on new items.

Alison Lawler, sophomore in pre-business, thinks Closets Collide will be a practical way to revamp a wardrobe without spending a lot of money.

“I think it goes without saying that everyone wants to look their best when they go out on the weekends,” Lawler said. “Every time me and my roommates look in our closets, even though they are jam-packed [with clothes], we feel we have nothing to wear. I wish I could go shopping as much as I would like to, but being a college student I just don’t have the money.” With more than 170 individuals planning to attend, according to the event’s Facebook group, Leighton is relying heavily on ISU students as volunteers to make sure the event runs smoothly.

Katelyn Howe, junior in apparel merchandising, design and production and MODA Fashion Club president, will participate in Closets Collide as a volunteer.

“MODA likes to take part in any service activities,” Howe said, “particularly those involving anything to do with apparel.”

But Howe and Leighton said Closets Collide isn’t just about clothing — it supports a clean environment. “An event like this is a different way to go green: recycling clothing,” Howe said. “Apparel can also be reused and recycled instead of just trashed in a landfill, especially when certain people could really benefit from having hand–me–down clothing.”

Chandra Peterson, Government of the Student Body vice president and senior in political science, also plans to participate in the event and said she thinks it’s a great way to practice sustainability off campus.

“One of the [four] R’s [of recycling] is ‘reuse.’ Although the best way to go green is to reduce what you consume, reusing is the second best way,” Peterson said.

Peterson heard about the event through Department of Sustainability Program Manager Merry Rankin, to whom Leighton e-mailed the class proposal. Peterson and Leighton worked together to come up with ideas to make Closets Collide successful.

“[Leighton] has been very proactive, very enthusiastic and very motivated through this whole process,” Rankin said. “And it shows.”

Rankin is pleased with how the event will promote living green in everyday life — not just on the ISU campus.

“The Live Green Initiative is not only about doing green activities and projects on campus, but we also hope students will be involved in living green in their own lives off campus,” Rankin said. “This way, it will eventually become a part of their life. Closets Collide supports this idea and, hopefully, will get students in the habit.”

Rankin said reusing the clothing and living a green lifestyle are not the only sustainable aspects of Closets Collide. Because donations and leftover clothing will be donated to ACCESS, an Ames women’s assault shelter, and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the benefits reach beyond students.

“Events like this assist in the ability of sustaining a community and a nation,” Rankin said. “Lots of people, not just the consumers, will benefit.”

Leighton hopes Closets Collide will be successful enough to become an annual event and grow as time goes on.

“I have a big vision for this,” she said. “I want it to be in a bigger location someday, with lots of activities other than swapping going on. I want everyone to be involved and benefit.”