Dressember

This article won honorable mention in the 2019 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.

“Dressember is a month-long event, in the month of December, to raise awareness for human trafficking,” senior Claire Shaffer said. “By using fashion, we create change that, at first glance, is subtle, but we save lives. It’s not about looking nice, it’s about getting people to notice. One small change like clothing can raise awareness in a community.”

This will be Shaffer’s fourth year participating in Dressember and senior Heather Byle’s first.

“It’s something simple that I can do that will hopefully influence other people to do the same and make a huge impact on the world,” Byle said. “If we want to make a difference in the world we have to do it ourselves because if we send other people to do it, it won’t get done how we want it to be done.”

Sophmores Jenna Lerond and Hannah Vierheilig are also participating for the first time.

“Women are people, too,” Lerond said. “We are not invisible, nor are we weak. We are not your add-ons or accessories, and I will participate in Dressember until this point is made.”

Using empowering motives these students are representing those who don’t have a voice and starting a conversation.

“I want people to realize the life threatening problem that goes on everyday and that affects the people around us. Human trafficking and sex trade is a disgusting thing in our world that must be stopped in order to preserve the dignity and freedom of all people,” Vierheilig said.

Aside from merely wearing a dress (or a tie) for the entirety of the month, many participants choose to either create individual fundraising pages or join the fundraising efforts of the overall organization.

“Like any problem in the world, advocates are needed to help spread awareness to raise funds,” Vierheilig said. “By wearing a dress, I am spreading awareness to human trafficking and hopefully inspiring other to do the same or to donate to this very important cause.”

People can still take part in Dressember by donating to any of the fundraisers created by individuals, even without dressing up.

“It all started with a girl named Blythe Hill,” Shaffer said. “When she was younger, she struggled with purpose and wanting to pursue a career with meaning.”

Shaffer explained that Hill’s interest in fashion eventually led to her creating Dressember with the goal to raise awareness for human trafficking through its efforts.

The money and fundraisers from Dressember go to a partnered program called A21, which is an organization that both raises awareness and uses the money donated to rescue and rehabilitate victims who were in the human trafficking industry.

Although slavery has been abolished in the United States for years, it still exists illegally in the form of human trafficking. A majority of the victims are young females who are typically tricked into the situation with job opportunities, gifts, favors, and many other methods.

Then, they are taken.

“People are sold against their will and are slaving to masters who abuse their values,” Shaffer said. 

These traumatic scenarios often cause shame within the lives of the victims to develop.

“Minor discomfort on my part is nothing compared to what the victims of human trafficking have experienced,” Lerond said.

The purpose of Dressember is mostly to raise awareness and less about the money. The awareness comes when those participating eventually have people asking why they are dressed up.

This then brings up the organization and donations, so even if they only get a few donations, or maybe none at all, they’re shining a light on a dark topic and encouraging people to take a stand.

“I want people to know that human trafficking and slavery are very real and it needs to be stopped because we are all humans, made out of the same structure of bones, blood, and muscles,” Byle said. “The biggest muscle is the brain so why don’t we use it.”