Donation drive seeks women’s clothes for work

To support women attempting to join the CNMI workforce, the CNMI Women’s Affairs Office will hosting a drive to secure donations of clothes, accessories, and shoes for women who may need them when looking for work or going to work.

The CWAO is asking community members to show their support for these women, and donate to the Women’s Work Wear drive, which will be ongoing until Nov. 17, 2023. The donated items will then be given to beneficiaries on Dec. 7, 2023.

The drive is accepting women’s professional attire, apparel, footwear, fashion accessories that are new or used but in good condition. The donations may be dropped off at the Women’s Affairs Office on Capital Hill.

Women’s Affairs Office special assistant Barbara Sablan said the idea behind the drive is to empower women in the workplace through fashion.

“Our Women’s Workwear Drive has a simple yet powerful goal—to inspire women to explore new fashion horizons and, in turn, increase their self-respect and self-importance. It’s not about designer labels; it’s about how you present yourself and your unique style.

“Our campaign is centered around three key values: encouragement, self-importance, and self-respect. We encourage women to dress for the job they want, not the job they currently have. As Audrey Hepburn once said, ‘Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.’ We stand by this belief and hope to inspire women to feel confident and elegant in their professional attire. We understand that work can be chaotic, which is why we promote professional camouflage—dressing the part to feel more in control. We strongly believe that all women deserve to look and feel professional in the workplace,” she said.

CNMI Women’s Affairs Office