Fashion Management 2020

During our time spent at New Circles, we were positioned in their GLOW (Gently Loved Outfits to Wear) clothing bank. It is set up much like a retail store, in which clients are able to browse, try on items and generally just feel as if they are engaging in a shopping experience (as opposed to arriving to collect donations). As a volunteer, I was stationed in the women’s department. I asked specifically to be in this area, as my current job is in a specialty women’s boutique, so I felt that I would be able to apply the skills I already possess into this volunteer position in ord er to best serve clients. My main duties were surrounding the maintenance of the selling space, including cleaning up after clients, keeping the clothing racks organized and easy to shop and looking neat. I was also able to  dress mannequins with pieces that they had on the floor. This further emphasized the retail atmosphere and introduced a level of fashion and styling into the sales floor. Most of the e...

It can be said that the experience my group and I had while working with New Circles was a very eye-opening; seeing the little day-to-day life events that we all seem to take for granted being very different from other families. Personally, when we first started this journey I only somewhat recognized the name of the organization and did not know what they did or what they stood for in the community and now I can see that it is a very special organization, especially being an immigrant myself. Most organizations tend to focus on a single purpose with a standardized way of helping their communities in order to make it as equal and fair as they can. New Circles, however, has taken it upon themselves to go the extra mile and thought of a thorough concept to maximize the way in which they can help as well as the amount of people that they can help. This organization does not only help in the moment but they work to build a future for those who walk through their doors. Any new immigrants...

Alejandra Rodriguez is a fourth-year student at Humber College, earning her Bachelor of Commerce degree in Fashion Management. She has been living in Burlington, Ontario since she came to Canada with her family 10 years ago. She is originally from the capital of Colombia, which is where her interest in business administration first started seeing as she was brought up helping generations of her family start-up and manage their own businesses. Alejandra is now working 3 jobs within certain aspects of her field. Most recently, she began working as an administrative manager at a relatively new centre that works to help internationally trained dentists integrate into the Canadian workforce. Alongside this position, she is also working with her dad and new partners to bring Rododonto, a famil y business that distributes disposable dental products within a well established position in a very tight market. Alejandra also works at a local jewellery store as a retail sales rep...

Kelly Berberick is a fourth-year Fashion Management student at  Humber College. A Toronto native, she had a city upbringing, but with the charm of small-town life through her formative years. Living in both an urban  hub as well as a quiet  farming community, it has  taught her the value in  both ways of life. With over six years of retail experience, her strengths lie in customer satisfaction, personal shopping, visual merchandising and trend research. She prides herself on her performance in all of these aspects. Currently, she works in retail management at a local Toronto specialty boutique, Honey. At Honey, she consistently makes top sales performance, and customer relations and service her top priority. She also takes control of the store’s visual management and appearance.  The fashion industry has always been a big part of Kelly’s life, and what started as a childhood hobby has grown into a love for textiles and the inner workings of such a...

My group and I experienced an emotionally rewarding and uplifting experience working with New Circles. New Circles provides the community with multiple services including a clothing bank, skills training, and settlement support. Their settlement support service provides refugees with help finding housing, childcare, or employment or guidance navigating the immigration process. The skills training services provide classroom and hands-on retail and customer service foundations as well as business office skills. The training program also teaches job search skills such as resume writing, and assists with job searching and interviews. When first arriving at New Circles we were given a training session on the history, services and safety procedures. After a tour, we participated in their volunteer opportunity of working alongside their retail and customer service skill trainees in their clothing bank named Gently Loved Outfits to Wear (GLOW). GLOW provides a retail experience to families w...

Mikaela Coakley grew up in the suburban city of Burlington, Ontario. She moved just around the bend of Lake Ontario to Toronto to study at Humber College and to follow her dreams of living in a big city. She is currently enrolled in her final year of school, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce within the field of Fashion Management. She currently works two jobs both unrelated to one another. She has worked at Starbucks as a barista for over six years and enjoys the aspect of getting to know her loyal customers by chatting and sharing her knowledge and love of both coffee and tea. Her second job consists of working at a retail skate shop called West 49 as an e-commerce sales associate. This role includes gathering, packing, and shipping out online purchases. She enjoys the ability to work within the skateboarding culture and learn about new collaborations and trends that evolved from the sport. While working she gains information on the demands and growth trends of...

Ashley’s Reflection Our experience working at New Circles was one I will never forget. When we first learned about the organization this past spring at Humber College’s Slow Fashion event hosted by the Sustainable Fashion Committee, we fell in love with what they stood for. Most often clothing banks give assorted clothes to families without much of an option. At New Circles, they have created a retail space for clients to essentially shop for their clothes. It allows for personal expression and experience much like the shopping experiences consumers often take for granted. It is such a unique and forward-thinking organization and at this point in time, I cannot sing their praise enough. On the first day of our volunteering, we were brought into a volunteer orientation, learning the background, functions, and future goals of the organization. From there, we were given a tour of the facility and brought to GLOW. After learning the ins and outs of operation, we were all separated and a...