Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Hamann.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
The idea for Out Of The Closet came about when a friend who was recently transitioning at a later age was lamenting that even though she was now buying women’s clothing, it all skewed masculine even though she wanted to feel feminine. At the time, I was selling clothing regularly and had a trunk of feminine clothing in her size, so we played dress-up, and she walked away with a new wardrobe. The joy in her eyes as she tried pieces on, coupled with the joy I felt seeing my clothing have a new life gave us the idea to start a free community closet focused on gender affirmation.
My co-founder, Sam Normand, and I both love fashion and clothing but agree that the “fast fashion” culture we live in is throwaway and detrimental to the environment and people in general. We believe that people should have access to clothing that makes them not only comfortable but feel their truest self without finances being a hinderance.
Feeling comfortable in one’s own skin has always been a soft spot for me. I have always struggled with body image issues and body dysmorphia due to a judgmental, stereotypically gendered, and often harmfully conservative upbringing that punished people for their bodies rather than celebrating them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Each facet of what we do has its own hurdles. We take our Pop-Up Free Community Closets to different community events in the area, and those require at least two volunteers to gather racks, trade show equipment, tables, signs, and then, of course, clothing. This is all just the prepping stage the day before. We also need at least two volunteers to work the set-up, event itself and tear-down. You can see how there might often be overlap with volunteers taking on multiple shifts.
One of the more interesting hurdles has been trying to get more of our “Permanent Free Racks” put into local student union buildings, shops, clinics, etc. I think that might just be a lack of time on both parties, but it’s something we feel very strongly about.
I’d say the biggest struggle by far is the time and money required. We are, of course, a non-profit. As we work on growing, all materials come out of pocket or by the generous donations from our community to our GoFundMe. Funds like monthly storage unit rent (for our boutique style set-up and storage for pop-up supplies) and storage solutions for organizing clothing add up quickly, but we’ve managed to get through so far.
I won’t even lie; this organization requires a lot of work. We’re a team of five with my co-founder and I plus three regular volunteers and the occasional friend or partner stepping in to assist. A five-person team might not seem like a lot, but we have grown in the last two years more than I could have imagined. It might sound corny, but it gives me hope and a deep appreciation for the community that supports us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your Non-Profit?
A bit about Out of the Closet:
We exist to clothe members of the LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized individuals in need. We also aim to bridge gaps and provide support for other organizations with the same inclusive goals by means of comfortable, accessible, and free clothing via our open closet, permanent racks in the SBC, and pop-up events.
We hope for this service to be a gender-affirming source of peace as folx transition into an outward appearance that fits their identity, move out of conservative/restrictive homes, or just are in need of clothing for a big move, a new job, emergency services, etc.
We hope to redefine what “in-need” means to people coming to us. We find people are less likely to take clothing because they think they aren’t “in need enough.” We’re here to combat that mindset. We think “in-need” can come in so many forms! People in the middle of transitioning needing a full new wardrobe, someone who’s lost everything in a natural disaster, the unhoused population, or someone who’s ever just had to choose between eating/rent/bills or buying something new for an event or a new job. When looks can dictate so much of how we feel, money should never be a barrier.
At a Glance: A grassroots free community closet focused on gender affirmation.
Our Main Benefits:
– Pop-Up Free Community Closest at local and regional events that are either LGBTQIA+ based or (of course) friendly.
– Permanent Free Racks: Spots for people to stop and “shop” for free clothes guilt-free. Kind of like free libraries or community pantries.
– Ship & Shop: We can ship clothing to people in need, or people can come look through our storage unit that’s laid out like a shop for easy perusing.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If you’re thinking about starting your own community closet, my advice would be to not try and reinvent the wheel. We’re not the first or only closet like this. We gathered advice when starting out from others who paved the way before us. They had the answers to questions we didn’t even know yet to ask.
My advice is mainly to try new things without the fear of “drowning.” Sometimes you have to dive headfirst into a new experience. This is where learning and growth happens. It also shows you your boundaries and limitations. They are so important, and I wish I had honored them at a younger age.
I also encourage folx to ask questions and seek answers earnestly. It might be as simple as a Google search, or it might be more complex. Surround yourself with people you admire and enjoy because they might be a resource for future endeavors and a source of peace.
Pricing:
- Clothing: FREE
- Shoes: FREE
- Accessories: FREE
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outoftheclosetla/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outoftheclosetLA
- Other: https://gofund.me/b7bed446
Image Credits
Emily Hamann
Sam Ortiz
Jerrick Thomas
