On Sept. 25 and 26, the Oakland University BeGolden Fashion Magazine held a fundraising pop-up stand to invite students to thrift donated clothes.
From selling sweaters and accessories like hats and purses, to copies of their magazines, the sample sale held various attractions for the stylish population of OU students. All items available at the pop-up sale were generously donated by general body members of BeGolden including writers, editors, page designers, models, photographers and stylists.
“I think it’s great that there are a bunch of people doing this on campus. I was thinking about joining way earlier.” Donovan Sharp, a freshman student, said after purchasing a BeGolden issue. “I personally am interested in magazines, I have a Thrasher collection at home.”
The club’s first magazine issue was published in Winter 2023, and the club has been growing ever since. Said issue featured winter trends, explored the loss of personal style through social media and profiled campus initiatives like Grizz Garments to present students with campus initiatives based around fashion — as well as personal thoughts.
“I didn’t know that they had this until I walked past it.” Donovan Sharp added. The location of the pop-up stand under Elliott Tower proved to make the stand a hot spot on campus on both days it was open.
“I thought it was so fun.” Hayle Monjaras said while holding a pair of vibrant graphic T-shirts and a new jacket, her newest purchases. “I like fashion. I feel like [the pop-up sale] is very inclusive.”
The club’s executive board members Madison Siewert and Olivia Chiappelli conducted the sales at the outdoor thrift stand since the club planned on using the event to fund the online publishing for its next issue coming in December of this year.
“It’s a good way to get everyone on campus involved … and see who has hobbies in common.” Madison Siewert, BeGolden’s president, said.
“OU hasn’t done any clothing pop-ups like this,” Siewert said, at the first campus fashion sample sale to date. Similarly, BeGolden is the first student-organized fashion magazine to be published with OU.
The magazine’s latest issue included articles on the ethics behind fashion in our modern day era, trends that are ever-present for the seasons and how to accommodate them into one’s style, and the evolution of clothes throughout the decades. The issue also featured a photo shoot with OU men’s basketball players Isaiah Jones and Osei Price on the heels of their historic March Madness run.
The pop-up sale, however, allowed the magazine to establish a physical presence on campus that could include all OU students in a creative way while also spreading awareness of the publication.
“You only see this on the internet … they only ever do [pop-up-sales] in California.” Monjaras said.
Many attendees said they were surprised by the existence of the club and that such a modern hobby as thrifting and fashion was being marketed on OU’s campus.
The pop-up sale resulted in a fun, new activity that brought OU students together through their common interest in fashion.
For more information on the next BeGolden fashion magazine issue, check out their social media page @begoldenou and keep an eye out for the December 2024 Issue.
