Stepping Forward With Giant Threads
Not every student can afford to buy new work clothes to present well for a job interview. Professional attire for a job interview not only creates a good first impression it also provides a greater level of confidence, which leads to a better overall presentation. The Giant Thread mobile trailer provides College of Sequoias (COS) students free professional business clothing for a job interview, job fair, networking event, or new job.
Giant Threads was founded by COS fashion professor Tiffany Wainwright, who helped turn a trailer into a mobile clothing boutique that is serving all three campuses (Visalia, Hanford, and Tulare). “My hope was to develop this program, and we were looking for a space, but just didn’t have an actual empty classroom to open it,” Wainwright said. “So last April, our provost at Hanford called me and said, ‘I have this really crazy idea: I have this old police trailer, it’s a 22 foot trailer that’s been sitting here, what if you used it for the clothing closet?’ And I was like, oh, my gosh, this is the best idea ever.”
“The students were just beyond happy when they put on those outfits and looked professional,” Wainwright added. “So it’s just it’s been a great experience we’ve had.”
“I just think it’s really beneficial to the students to have a brand new outfit because they’re going out into this world,” Wainwright further stated. “It’s their first impression, and to have something new that fits them, it’s gonna make a world of difference.”
In bringing awareness of clothing needs for college students, HHSA is proud to be a community partner with Leadership Visalia (Visalia Chamber of Commerce), COS, COS Fashion Program, and Career Technical Education.
Giant Threads HHSA Community on Vimeo.
Quotes Resource:
Moore, Sam. "COS, Visalia Leadership clothe students with Giant Threads." The Sun-Gazette, March 3, 2022, website: thesungazette.com.
