The Wardrobe is designed to serve transgender and gender nonconforming members of the Clemson community, but is open to anyone in need. The Wardrobe is a free clothing bank maintained by the Clemson University Sexuality & Gender Alliance (CU SAGA). The purpose of this project is to provide a private and accessible space for transgender and gender nonconforming students to access clothing to help t
hem feel more comfortable in the ways in which they express their gender. The Wardrobe was founded after the officers of CU SAGA identified a number of issues pointing to a need for such a project:
1) According to our own experiences as active members of the LGBTQ+ community at Clemson, transgender students often feel underrepresented and isolated at this university. Many go through their four years at Clemson feeling that there is no support network available to them, and many trans students eventually drop out, transfer, or medically withdraw because of this.
2) Individuals who choose to shop in a clothing section that doesn't appear to "fit" their gender, particularly those who appear to be male and shop in a women's section, are often verbally harassed, intimidated, and stared at while doing their shopping. The Wardrobe attempts to mitigate this for trans and gender nonconforming Clemson students, as we believe that no one should be accosted for trying to buy a shirt.
3) Many Clemson students, particularly out-of-state students, do not have cars on campus and thus rely on friends and roommates to help them get around. This can be tedious for a number of reasons, and so a trip to Goodwill or any other clothing store to purchase new work pants or a new interview outfit can be difficult. The Wardrobe will always be located on campus, where it is easily accessible for students.
