International Justice Mission at TCU hosted its annual pop-up thrift shop on Wednesday to initiate conversations about human trafficking while raising funds for anti-trafficking programs. Funds from the pop-up are donated to TCU IJM’s partnership, IJM Southeast Asia.

Students running IJM Thread’s Pop-Up Thrift Shop sold clothes donated from the TCU community and used the opportunity to introduce students to an important topic, said Meghan Otte, vice president of advocacy for IJM.

“It’s just an easy way to start those conversations not only about IJM and trafficking but also fast fashion,” Otte said. “I feel like it’s a very well-rounded event that hits all the things that we care about.”

IJM is the world’s largest anti-trafficking nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating human trafficking in the form of sex trafficking, labor exploitation and cyber service trafficking. TCU’s chapter serves as an advocate and hosts events like IJM Threads to raise funds and educate students.

The event encourages the sustainable practice of recycling clothes and the fight against labor exploitation, said Isabella Harris, who serves alongside Otte as vice president of advocacy for IJM.

“We’re providing an opportunity for people to shop ethically and buy cheap clothes where the cheapness doesn’t come at the cost of somebody’s dignity,” Harris said. “We’re able to set up a culture that is able to balance fashion with the values of humanity and that is really exciting for us.”

Through their main advocacy events, IJM has raised over $70,000 since 2015 when the chapter first started at TCU, said Carson Nicola, IJM president.

“We have social events to help recognize that there is a community on campus that cares about this issue, wants to see justice done and wants to see other students care about the issue as well,” Nicola said.