USC

Sustainability goes spooky: Halloween costume swap at USC

USC Student Union’s Sustainability Hub launches a free costume exchange.

A clear basket and green bowl sit on a wooden floor in front of a mural of a tree.
The costume bin and accessory bowl sit at the entrance of the Sustainability Hub. (Photo by Clera Rodrigues)

The Sustainability Hub, nestled in the USC Student Union, has launched a Halloween Costume Drop ‘N’ Swap initiative.

What appears to be an inconspicuous transparent bin serves a small yet powerful purpose in reducing waste and promoting sustainability. The initiative exists as part of a nationwide effort of costume swaps to curb fashion wastage.

At the hub, students are invited to drop off their gently used costumes, clothes and accessories and peruse available items. However, visitors may still collect costumes without bringing their own.

The event will run daily from Tuesday, Oct. 10, through Monday, Oct. 23, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. After this window, all unclaimed items will be donated.

October is a month rife for fashion wastage. An October 2019 study of Halloween costumes by Hubbub and the Fairyland Trust found that, at the 19 major UK retail outlets surveyed, plastic makes up 83% of the materials needed to make Halloween costumes.

In the US, total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.6 billion, according to a National Retail Federation survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics last month.

The NRF survey found that more than two-thirds of those celebrating Halloween plan to buy costumes – the highest in the survey’s history.

The NRF projects that overall costume spending will rise to a record $4.1 billion in 2022 from $3.6 billion. This year, a record 73% of people — up from 69% in 2022 — will take part in Halloween-related festivities.

In-store Halloween decor options and fast fashion websites can tempt shoppers looking to celebrate conveniently, and on a low budget, said students.

Elisa Xia, a senior majoring in communications and the Sustainability Hub Programming and Events Intern on the President’s Sustainability Internship Program, believes in using what you already have.

“A lot of people could find bits and pieces of items that could form an outfit that they like. That’s kind of what I’m doing this semester where I am planning to be a pirate,” said Xia. “Take some kind of red skirt and a white top and then just form it together.”

“If you really don’t have a specific item, that’s what the Hub’s drop and swap is for,” said Xia. “Take inspiration, and maybe decide from there what you want to be for Halloween.

Clothing swaps are probably the best way for people to “change up what’s in their closet,” she said.

Wednesday marked only the second day of the event, and people were already dropping things off, filling up the once empty basket.

Some students recognized the larger significance of the Drop ‘N’ Swap.

“The initial reaction and fun of it would be to check out what is here,” said Xia. “But on a deeper level, I think ultimately people know that this Drop ‘N’ Swap is here to promote sustainability”.

The Halloween costume exchange is one of the Sustainability Hub’s many programs pushing toward sustainability.

One other major program is Assignment Earth, a university-wide effort towards greater sustainability. Some of its aspirations and programs for the campus include climate neutrality, net zero waste, hydration stations and education opportunities.

The Sustainability Hub welcomes everyone to visit and explore its space. “Come in and partake in any of the initiatives that we have going on here at the space, including the drop-in support,” said Xia.