Both undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Georgia can now dress for success—without paying a single cent.

UGA’s Student Government Association opened its Professional Clothing Closet, located in Milledge Hall, on Nov. 21. Already, the project has received nearly 2,000 donated articles of clothing and according to Matthew McDaniel, the co-founder of the project, has served 30 students across campus.

How It Works

UGA students in need of business attire are eligible to book an appointment with SGA to get their own professional clothing. All students are limited to one full business professional outfit a year.

The Professional Clothing Closet has everything from men’s polo shirts, slacks and suits to women’s dresses and blazers. The closet also has accessories such as neckties, jewelry and shoes.

All of the clothes and accessories in the closet are gently used and donated from faculty, alumni, organizations such as Project Safe and other groups. People can also drop off clothes at the Center for Student Activities and Involvement located in the Tate Center.

For McDaniel, it’s not just about helping students find a plain button-up, blazer and pants. It’s about finding clothes that speak to them.

“We’re not just doing simple colors, you know,” McDaniel said. “We’re trying to bring out personality in each one of these.”

A Solution to a College Student’s Problem

McDaniel was inspired to start the project after his own personal struggles with finding the right clothes for networking dinners and interviews, as well as hearing from his fellow classmates that they couldn’t afford full suits.

“Sometimes you find out on Monday that you have an interview on Thursday, so you don’t have the opportunity to buy professional attire,” McDaniel said. “Most students can’t afford an unexpected expense.”

Grady Newsource reporter Katie Kim went shopping at SGA’s Professional Clothing Closet to find her perfect business professional attire.

Students who want to book an appointment and get their own clothes can email SGA at sgaclothingcloset@uga.edu or visit the SGA site to fill out the request form.

Katie Kim is a senior majoring in journalism in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.