Anyone who has worked in the business world knows the wonders a smart appearance can perform; the lasting, positive impression you can leave on a potential client or future employer. But unfortunately not everyone has that same opportunity. Seeking employment is the first and most important step the economically disadvantaged can make towards gaining financial independence. So, to help stimulate a healthy workforce, we should consider those who have the will to work, but perhaps not the means to afford an office-appropriate wardrobe.
That is where Dress for Success Vancouver, a local not-for-profit organization, comes in. They provide women in need of professional attire with clothing donations from people in the community. Now in their 10th year, the Vancouver chapter of Dress for Success Worldwide (and the first international affiliate of the New York–based organization) has breathed new life into the old adage, “Out with the old and in with the new.” With our lightly-used clothing, they assist more than 1,100 women to enter, or re-enter, the workforce each year.
But clothing alone is not enough to sustain a career. There are many critical skills that one should also possess: resume-writing, interviewing, goal-setting, budgeting, etc. Thus, Dress for Success’s career centre and mentorship program offer their clientele the opportunity to acquire proficiency in these areas. And surprisingly, they do so with a meagre budget of $200,000 each year, which they drum up without the support of government funding. Dress for Success instead relies on fundraising events like the Dress Me for Success Corporate Challenge, which wraps up with a grand celebration and fashion show at the Pacific Palisades Hotel, on October 1.
Asking for help takes courage, and Dress for Success represents an important first step to self-sufficiency. It shows these women have a strong resolve to improve their lives. True beauty lies herein.
