Discount designer jean company, Charity Denim, brought department store threads straight to sorority row Thursday, relieving SMU girls of their trips to Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
From noon to 6 p.m., members of Delta Gamma hosted Charity Denim to benefit Service for Sights, DG’s national philanthropy. Service for Sights aids people who are blind or visually impaired.
Several tables piled with labels, such as Seven and Miss Sixty, filled the DG house while girls from every corner of campus casually shopped for the hottest deals this season.
While the designer jeans that were being sold normally cost between $140 and $160 retail, their reduced price tags ranged from $60 and $85 at the sale. For each pair sold, $5 was donated to Service for Sights.
“This program is a unique way to support our philanthropy, while offering people an opportunity to purchase brand new jeans at discounted prices,” Delta Gamma Vice President of Foundation Victoria Sheard said.
With music and refreshments, girls were able to shop on their own time. Small fitting rooms were set up for their privacy. Not only did the sale feature jeans from sizes 24 to 32, but there were discounted Blue Colt blazers and C & C shirts as well.
“College students like to look nice, and it is even better deal to support a good cause at the same time,” President and founder of Charity Denim Steve Price said.
He started the company about a year ago when he tapped into the large market of college girls who are willing to pay a fortune for a pair of the latest designer jeans. At the end of each season Charity Denim buys left over inventory directly from the manufactures, which are “happy to help out,” according to Price.
The company has been to many campuses across the country, and has also done sales in private homes. Charity Denim donates to whatever philanthropy the host decides.
Sheard organized the event after hearing about it from sorority sisters in California who have participated, and raved of its success.
“It is great to raise money for such a wonderful cause that affects people everywhere,” she said.
“What makes this different from any other philanthropy on campus is that you don’t have to buy a ticket or form teams, and you can come and go when you want,” Delta Gamma President Rachael Potter said.
The sale was also open to all members of the Dallas community.
“We did PR in the sorority houses and different places around Dallas,” Potter said. “We wanted it to be as big as possible.”
First-year Ashley Payne bought a pair of Sacred Blue jeans after socializing with her DG sisters and trying on a few other brands. She purchased them because she felt it was a good investment in more than one way.
“Everyone likes a good deal, and [the money] goes to a good cause,” Payne said.
Melissa Sweat, a junior and member of Kappa Alpha Theta, agreed as she bought a pair of Sacred Blues for her younger sister.
“It’s also convenient,” Sweat said.
On top of its philanthropy and convenience, Price mentioned that events like these tend to melt away sorority rivalry that sometimes exists on college campuses.
“Other sororities feel very welcome to come, and the hostess sorority is always flattered when members of other houses show up,” Price said.
It proved true as girls in Tri Delt t-shirts and Kappa buttons walked in the open front door to search through pairs of Yanuk and AG jeans.
Citizens of Humanity jeans were the No. 1 seller, according to Price.
“Out of the 900 jeans that Charity Denim provided, 185 were sold,” Price said.
A total of $925 was raised for donation the charity; Delta Gamma now plans to host this event every semester beginning this fall.
“The sale gives our house the opportunity to get involved with each other and our philanthropy,” Potter said. “This kind of thing is so prevalent on our campus where girls love to shop.”
Tomorrow, Price will be setting up shop at Texas Christian University, and within the next month, Charity Denim (www.CharityDenim.com) plans to visit Arizona State University and Stanford University.
