Alumni Digest / U of T / Community /
A teaching wardrobe with another life
OISE's Career Closet helps students dress for practicums and interviews with donated clothing, shared advice and a permanent campus home.
OISE community members browse donated clothing at the Career Closet.Photo: Michelle Bojcun/OISE
The context
Where the work begins
A rack of donated clothes can make a teaching practicum feel more manageable. OISE staff members Alex Merrick and Mairi McKenna Edwards developed the Career Closet after discussing students' needs, including the cost of suitable clothing. Its first session, held during the spring 2024 career fair, drew more than 100 students.
The takeaway
What follows
The initiative now has a permanent space on OISE's 12th floor, with sessions scheduled around practicums, conferences and career fairs. Students from all three U of T campuses can visit, subject to an item limit. Volunteers sort donations and help visitors find clothes that fit; guidance has also covered alterations and dressing nonbinary bodies.
Source reporting
A teaching wardrobe with another life
Original summary by Alumni Digest, based on public source reporting. This independent publication is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of Toronto. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.
