With Halloween just around the corner, students scramble to order their costumes. However, spookiness does not have to come at the cost of the environment. Creativity can meet sustainability through recycled materials and second-hand finds.

Laura McAndrews, associate professor of fashion design and merchandising, said purchasing a Halloween costume has a hazardous environmental impact, especially one made of synthetic materials.

“Mostly all of your synthetic fabrics are going to the landfill, and they’re sitting there for a very long time,” McAndrews said. “I’m not going to speak for every garment, but to go and just purchase a Halloween costume is not a sustainable way to celebrate Halloween.”

McAndrews outlined the environmental hazards of purchasing mass-produced costumes often made of synthetic fabrics, compared to natural fibers such as cotton, wool, linen and silk which can biodegrade.

“These synthetics, I mean, they’re like a plastic bottle,” McAndrews said. “They’re like any other kind of plastic petroleum that may never biodegrade at such a slower rate. Then it can contaminate the soils and cause problems with biodiversity.”

Students have access to resources at the fashion building to help keep their costumes eco-friendly this Halloween.

“We have the tech lab where you can 3D print things like accessories or patterns. I will say there’s a small fee associated with it, but if you’re going to spend money on something, I would spend it on something you can make,” McAndrews said. “We also have The Fabric Pantry, so that’s for students to come and get fabric, which is usually donated.” 

Isabella Hanley, a junior economics major, is one of many students looking for a costume last minute.

“I’ve always been into thrifting clothes, you never know what you can find and what you can put together,” Hanley said. “Goodwill always has Halloween accessories or costumes. I usually don’t reuse costumes and end up donating them, so I would rather not spend so much money on something like that.”

McAndrews agreed finding second-hand garments is a creative, thoughtful and cheaper way to make a costume that also reduces environmental impact.

“If you’re not a fashion student, I think a very accessible way is thrifting,” McAndrews said. “I love thrifting and just putting together a costume that is either already in your wardrobe or that you’re getting from a thrift store. You’re giving a garment a second life, and I find those so much more creative.”

Hanley said she will be heading to the thrift store to purchase her Halloween costume this year.

“I have some ideas of what I want to be, and the pieces I need are things I know I will find at a thrift store,” Hanley said. “What I end up finding will definitely be better quality and cheaper than anything at somewhere like Spirit Halloween, and I might wear it again.”

Amy O’Malley is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].