Three years prior, Massachusetts enacted legislation banning the disposal of worn clothing and textiles. The legislation seeks to diminish waste and encourage recycling and repurposing. Although many remain oblivious to this emerging law, MIT students leading Infinite Threads were pleased to witness its approval.
Infinite Threads is a derivative of the Undergraduate Association Sustainability Committee — a group of students orchestrating reuse-related initiatives since 2013. With fresh leadership and a refined focus, Infinite Threads has increased its popup sales from three to four annual events to nine.
A cadre of students gathers gently used clothing from members of the MIT community and sells these items at significantly reduced prices during popup sales held several times each semester. Sales are conducted outside the Student Center to maximize the area’s foot traffic. Everyone is welcome to buy items at these sales, and Infinite Threads also accepts clothing donations during the popups.
Administrators Cameron Dougal ’25, a recent graduate who studied urban science and planning along with computer science (Course 11-6), and Erin Hovendon, a rising senior in mechanical engineering (Course 2), led the small student-operated organization for much of the academic year 2024-25.
“Our objective is to minimize material waste. We gather a substantial amount of clothing at the end of the spring semester when students vacate their residence halls. We then sell items like shirts, jackets, pants, and jeans at popup sales for $2 to $6,” Dougal explains, adding, “we frequently have numerous leftover T-shirts from residence hall events and career fairs that we distribute for free. These MIT-related items highlight the significance of a hyperlocal reuse ecosystem. Once these items exit the campus, the likelihood of them finding a new home diminishes greatly.”
Hovendon, who is passionate about sustainability and aims to pursue a career in renewable energy, joined the organization after noticing an email sent to DormSpam. “It was an excellent chance to step into a leadership role in sustainability while also benefiting the MIT community. We want to provide affordable clothing options, and we receive a great deal of positive feedback regarding our thrift popups — I enjoy hearing from students that they acquired clothing they now frequently wear from one of our sales,” Hovendon shares.
“All revenue generated at the popups is directed toward compensating student workers and renting the U-Haul used to transport clothing stored at MIT’s Furniture Exchange warehouse to the Student Center. Our aim is straightforward: we aspire to keep clothing out of landfills, which ultimately supports the planet,” Dougal states.
Research indicates that a pair of cotton denim jeans can take up to a year to break down, whereas jeans or clothing items made with polyester may take between 40 to 200 years to decompose. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, blue jeans comprise 5 percent of landfill volume. Infinite Threads prevents clothing items from ending up in landfills.
Hovendon concurs. “We don’t generate significant profits at the sales — that’s not our objective. Our mission is to aid the environment. We were fortunate to receive initial funding from the MIT Women’s League, the Office of Sustainability, and the MIT Fabric Innovation Hub.”
Infinite Threads also partners with the MIT Office of Sustainability (MITOS) to promote awareness of their initiatives.
“Infinite Threads exemplifies a remarkable model of how students can take meaningful action, empower individuals, and harness the collective community to mitigate clothing waste and climate impact through a culture of reuse. MIT students, such as Cameron and Erin, are exceptionally equipped to address sustainability issues both on campus and beyond as they approach complex challenges with a mindset to experiment with various solutions and navigate operational realities,” remarks Brian Goldberg, assistant director of MITOS.
In 2024-25, the club sold over 1,000 clothing items. Any unsold items from the thrift shop are donated to Helpsy, an organization dedicated to keeping clothing out of landfills while also creating job opportunities. Dougal and Hovendon report that they diverted approximately 750 pounds of textiles to Helpsy in the academic year 2024-25 alone.
Lauren Higgins, a rising senior majoring in political science who took over management of Infinite Threads from Dougal earlier this year, states, “I initially joined as a staff member for Infinite Threads, and I enjoy contributing to waste reduction and sustainability efforts on campus. It’s been rewarding to witness our impact, and I hope we can continue that in the upcoming year.”