On April 3, the Fashion Club hosted its long-running ‘Nearly New Sale,’ selling clothing and other items to fundraise for fashion students to attend educational trips.
The sale kept the student volunteers busy as customers rushed to take advantage of the prices, which were as low as $1.
“A lot of our students thrift … and our prices are even lower than thrift stores, so for students who can’t afford stuff this is a great opportunity,” said Leslie Asfour, Delta professor and the program chair of the Fashion and Interior design department.
The sale has an advantage over thrifting, though.
“A lot of things are brand new,” said Jasmine Ayala, former club vice president.
Women’s shoes, jewelry, jeans, men’s silk ties, and even christmas baubles and baseball bats, were largely donated by local businesses — such as Theadora Boutique, California Tailoring Co., and Bungalow, among others.
“It’s not only benefiting us in some way but also the community. At a fraction of the price we’re having brand new items but also pre-loved, really good, branded items,” said Carmen Ayala.
Dr. Heather Maloy, who now works on campus at the Workforce Development Center, has been coming to the sale since she was a student.
“Every year I come … I make a mad dash up here because I know they have all the good things … I love — as a customer — coming here, and all the students are very much in tune to what you need,” said Maloy.
Fashion department students have commonly used the funds to go on educational trips to New York, an international fashion industry hub, where companies such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein are headquartered.
Carmen Ayala, Fashion Club president, said the sale “helps students in the program meet people in the industry.”
Recounting her experience of the trip to New York last Fall, she said that “we also got to see other design schools. A lot of us are potential transfer students.”
Students also met industry insiders such as Gabi Asfour, a professor at the Parsons School of Design and the co-founder/creative director of threeASFOUR, a New York-based fashion company. Gabi Asfour is the cousin of Leslie Asfour.
“We also met an alumni student from Delta college and her name is Kathy Vang,” said Rhensi Campana, Fashion Club vice president.
The trip “really put it into perspective for a lot of us…like this is really a feasible career path,” Ayala said.
Hosted for around 25 years, with a gap during the Covid-19 pandemic, the sale has supported multiple generations of fashion students’ educational trips.
“Meeting people in the industry is so impressive to them. They need to form those connections, they need to see the world outside of the classroom and see what they’re working towards,” said Leslie Asfour.
On May 1, the fashion department will be holding its 12th annual fashion show. Admission is free and open to the public. The event includes a “Design on Display Exhibit” beginning at 10 a.m. in Danner Hall, featuring live demonstrations of crocheting, sketching, and more. Attendees will have the chance to vote on their favorite design.
“A Story of Fashion” will start at 7 p.m. in the quad. It will feature collections from advanced design students and alumni.
