Career Closet
The Career Closet is currently closed for the summer and will host pop-up events starting in fall quarter. Check our Events page for upcoming dates, times, and details, which will be posted throughout the academic year.
About the Career Closet
The Career Closet is a space where students/alumni can find free, professional clothing to help set them apart for an interview, internship, career fair, or any other professional event in their lives. To learn more about the history of the Career Closet, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Ready to visit the Career Closet?
The Career Closet is currently closed and will return spring quarter with weekly pop-up hours. Check our Events page for upcoming dates, times, and details, which will be posted throughout the quarter.
Not sure how to care for professional clothing?
Here are some clothing care tips:
Do you have professional clothing to donate?
We need your help! Our Career Closet is community-supported through generous donations from faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.
- Increase equitable opportunities for all students by providing access to professional clothing
- Increase access to clothing that fits all body types and levels of expression
- Promote sustainable fashion by redirecting unwanted clothing items away from the landfill
- Get a tax write-off (complete our tax deduction receipt available)
Pre-washed, ready-to-wear, business-professional or business-casual attire and accessories.
- Drop off donations to the WWU Alumni House (709 High Street) Monday through Friday 10am-4pm.
- Are you a staff or faculty member who comes to campus? You can walk to the Career Services Center to drop off your donation--Tuesday through Thursday only. Please note that the road behind Old Main is currently closed. For large donations, please donate to the Alumni House.
Local Drop-off Donation Instructions:
Drop off you clean, ready-to-wear professional clothing and accessories to the WWU Alumni House (709 High Street) Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.*
You can pull into the driveway to unload your items and request a tax receipt if you'd like.
* If someone isn't available to accept your donation, you can leave it on the porch, away from the door.
Shipping Donation Instructions:
If you don’t live locally but would still like to donate, you are welcome to ship your donation to:
Alumni House
Western Washington University
516 High Street MS 9199
Bellingham, WA 98225
Hear why others have donated!
Watch this short video to learn the impact WWU faculty, staff, and alumni have made.
History of the Career Closet
The Career Closet began as a grassroots effort to meet a clear student need. It originated from a collection of professional attire gathered within the Marketing Department to support students participating in case competitions. As the collection grew, it became clear that broader access and a more sustainable system were needed. The collection was transferred to Career Services, where it could be expanded and made available to the wider Western community.
From the start, the goal of the Career Closet has been to remove barriers to participation in career-related opportunities. Access to professional attire can influence whether students feel able to attend interviews, career fairs, conferences, and other events. The Closet also reflects a commitment to sustainability by keeping quality clothing in circulation and reducing waste associated with “fast fashion.”
The development of the Career Closet was supported through campus collaboration and key initiatives, including the Community Engagement Fellows Program (Design Clinic) and funding secured through WWU Give Day. Early efforts focused on designing systems for intake and distribution, building out the space within Career Services, and establishing a sustainable model for growth, led by an MBA Graduate Assistant. The Closet officially launched through a community-wide open house that introduced the resource alongside other career programming and services.
Over time, the Career Closet has evolved to better serve the Western community. What began as a more structured inventory system shifted to a flexible, student-centered approach—operating on a “take what you need” basis. The Closet is open to student and aumni, with student employees helping maintain the space and support visitors.
The space itself has expanded and become more visible, with continued WWU Give Day support funding additional storage, targeted purchases to meet demand, and the development of “Career Closets on the Go”—mobile racks that bring resources directly to students across campus.
Sustained by ongoing donations, the Career Closet reflects a strong culture of community support. Donated items are given new life, helping ensure that all members of the Western community have access to the resources they need to feel confident and prepared for their next steps.
Have more questions?
Call us at 360-650-3240 or email us at careers@wwu.edu.