Thornes Marketplace will host a pop-up boutique for Dress for Success Western Massachusetts.
Republican file photo
NORTHAMPTON — Dress for Success Western Massachusetts is hosting a clothing drive to support a pop-up boutique coming to Thornes Marketplace on Nov. 16.
Dress for Success is a nonprofit with a mission to help unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, develop tools and professional attire to thrive in work and in life.
Dress for Success Western Massachusetts Community Engagement Manager Diane Jacobs told Reminder Publishing the pop-up boutiques have become a popular mode of giving back items raised through clothing drives to their clientele seeking professional work attire. After hosting a pop-up boutique in the basement of Forbes Library last year, the group is now moving to Thornes Marketplace for more space.
The boutique on Nov. 16 will occur on level 3 of the building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free professional attire will be on hand for those seeking the necessary clothing for future job opportunities and prospects.
Donations of new or gently used business-appropriate clothing such as suits, dresses, pants, blazers, coats, shoes, boots, handbags, jewelry, and other accessories are welcomed to be donated through Nov. 9.
Donation drop-off locations include Thornes Marketplace, Forbes Library, Northampton City Hall and Greenfield Savings Bank located at 325 King St. Dress for Success asks that all items are freshly dry-cleaned or laundered before donating.
Jacobs explained that through its clothing drives, Dress for Success Western Mass. has been able to offer these pop-up boutique opportunities in different pockets of the region where items are free for those looking for the necessary clothing for potential job and career opportunities.
“We want to make certain that whatever is donated looks good and people can actually wear,” Jacobs said. “We try to make it look like a boutique, and I will not stop short of that. It has to look good. This is Dress for Success’ name, and everyone thought of us as just clothing and so when they come into the pop-ups, I educate them of the different programs we also have.”
Jacobs explained Dress for Success doesn’t stop with clothing options for local unemployed and underemployed women. They are welcomed back to collect from donations to make up a week of formal clothing for their new position.
Dress for Success also offers the “Foot in the Door” program, which is a workforce readiness program for the unemployed or underemployed women they work with. It includes digital literacy training, career exploration, self-worth workshops, and professional skills development like public speaking and communication. A career center featuring a computer lab is also now available at their office in Springfield.
“We want to make certain that the women that are coming in are comfortable and ready to get back into the workforce. And it could just be women already in the workforce who want a nice refresh, and that’s what we provide them,” Jacobs explained. “I want everybody to feel as if they can take their time and go through jewelry pieces, go through the clothes and see exactly what it is that’s needed. I don’t want them to feel as though they’re being rushed.”
Jacobs added that anyone interested in volunteering in the organization or looking to donate clothing can reach out to learn more or visit dfswm.org.
Donations are accepted at Dress for Success Western Mass.’s Springfield office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The group is asking those looking to donate to contact the office first if possible to coordinate a time for drop-off. To drop off at any of the locations in Northampton, there is no coordination necessary.
Jacobs added Dress for Success Western Mass. has a partnership with Suite Up Springfield, a men’s version of the same efforts, to connect unemployed and underemployed individuals with the goal to achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, development tools and professional attire to thrive in work and in life. She added any men looking for similar opportunities and resources can reach out there.
Jacobs explained once clients get into the foot in the door program, their lives start to change.
“They become a part of the Dress for Success family. We have low-income women that come in, women that have never worked, stay-at-home moms, and women who were ready to retire but change their mind and want refreshers on different things. They are low-income women but they have a dream,” she said.
Jacobs said she has several stories of seeing woman come in “meek and mild” before completely transforming into more confident and career ready individuals through their programming and career growth. Seeing the growth firsthand on various accounts has reinforced the notion that Dress for Success is making waves and helping their targeted population overcome any odds in finding career paths.
“It’s just beautiful. It’s a beautiful experience. It makes me feel really good knowing that I helped women change their lives. Every Tuesday on our website dfswm.org and our Facebook page we have transformation Tuesdays. You’ll see a before picture of our clients and an after. They change instantly and the confidence grows which I love. I love when they have the confidence in themselves,” said Jacobs. “I want people to know what we are about and what we have to offer to change their lives. It’s all about life changing and giving people second chances.”
