Dressing for a New School Year

Back-to-school shopping is big business! Last year, American families spent $26 billion on new clothes, shoes, school supplies, and electronics. A growing part of this industry is school uniforms. In some areas of the U.S., more than 40 percent of public schools and preschools require uniforms.  

For many families, affording back-to-school clothes is a challenge. That’s why Jami Oakley started UniCycle in 2015. UniCycle helps families in Nashville, Tennessee, by recycling clothing. Oakley and her team collect classroom donations and distribute them to about 50 local schools. Students can choose free clothing from a UniCycle closet.

Back-to-school shopping is big business! American families spent $26 billion last year on new items for school. Those items included school supplies and electronics. New clothes and shoes were included too. School uniforms are a growing part of the back-to-school industry. In some areas of the U.S., more than 40 percent of public schools and preschools require uniforms.

Many families can’t afford new back-to-school clothes. That’s why Jami Oakley started UniCycle in 2015. UniCycle uses recycled clothing to help families in Nashville, Tennessee. Oakley and her team collect donations from local classrooms. The team gives those donations to about 50 local schools. Students can choose free clothing from a UniCycle closet.

“The program allows the entire school to act as one big family,” says Oakley. She hopes that when students pick out items from the closet, families feel a sense of relief. 

UniCycle also helps the planet by keeping used but still wearable clothing out of landfills. Last school year, UniCycle volunteers gave out more than 15,000 clothing items! 

“The program allows the entire school to act as one big family,” says Oakley. She hopes that families feel relieved that their students can use the closet when they need to.

UniCycle also helps the planet. The program keeps used clothing that is still able to be worn out of landfills. UniCycle volunteers gave out more than 15,000 clothing items during the last school year!