MCC Clothing Etc. is a treasure trove for students on a budget to explore and find amazing deals for as low as 50 cents. This week, I spoke to the social media manager and donations processor, Hannah Gray. She gave a thorough tour and rundown of how their store works.
The first stop was at the donations drop off, where two volunteers were sorting various items into different bins. MCC has bins for clothing, shoes, bags, lighting, books, etc. From there, the donated goods are brought to the back of the house and are sorted further, fixed, and priced before coming onto the floor. Gray confirms that out of all the merchandise MCC carries, the biggest donations are clothing.
Gray agrees that a lot of students shop at MCC.
“We reconfigured our clothing section a few months ago to make it student and younger-generation friendly. So, we now have one section of our clothing area that is for trends.”
This includes brand name companies such as Lululemon, Aritzia, and American Eagle. There is also a sports outerwear section that features brand names such as Columbia and Nike. Gray also highlights the vintage section, which consists of older fashions that “your mom might have worn back in the day.” Another area of the store is called “local and sustainable.”
Gray says this section is “all brands that are local to the area or [Canadian]. Sustainable in the way they have ethical practices.”
When asked why she thinks that students are more drawn toward thrifting now, Gray says: “I think that originally thrifting was more because you had to, and it was an issue of money. And I am sure for a lot of students it is still a reason why they thrift, because going to school is expensive … [and] living on campus is expensive. So, thrifting is a great option to get cheaper items that are still on trend or the right brands.”
Gray also believes that thrifting has become popular and that students are more concerned for their environment.
“They want to be part of the change that comes with thrifting [by] not buying new, which is huge,” says Gray. “We are taught since we were kids [to] reuse, reduce, and recycle, and we are all so good at recycling and reusing, but they are in that order for a reason. You have to reduce. And that comes with not buying new. You have to buy second hand.”
Vintage is becoming a popular trend for students, and Gray believes that “fashion today is pulling from older trends from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s [and] ‘90s because vintage is authentically [trendy].” She also highlights that students want to stand out and be different, and vintage is a way they can achieve that goal.
While there are no student discounts at this MCC location, MCC Clothing Etc. does have a weekly 50 cent sale. Yes, you read correctly. MCC has two different coloured tags on sale per week: one at half off, the other for half a dollar.
MCC Clothing Etc. not only has amazing deals, but they also provide funding for MCC relief, development, and peace projects around the world.
When asked what she likes best about working at MCC Clothing Etc., Gray says: “I love both [jobs] because social media is the creative aspect where you get to connect with people locally in the community … But at the same time, too, going through the donations is fun, and then when I get stuff that is vintage — I mean, how can you not love working in a vintage clothing department? [laughs] … I really feel like I have the dream job!”
To learn more about MCC Clothing Etc., you can follow them on Instagram, @mccclothingetc. I encourage you to go check out MCC and see what fashionable finds you can buy for 50 cents.
Image: Rachel Tait/The Cascade
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
