Career Wardrobe

Our Theory of Change combines an understanding of the systemic barriers our participants encounter – such as class, race/ethnicity, gender identity, educational level, lack of permanent housing, and/or history of incarceration – with the reality of the changing nature of work and employment availability in the Philadelphia region. Through our individual styling appointments, professional development, and Wardrobe Careers Internship Program, we provide people with the opportunity to learn and navigate workplace and societal norms in terms of clothing, communication, and presentation that can help to mitigate some of these systemic barriers, leading to greater opportunities and economic stability.

The Wardrobe believes accessing help when you are in need should be easy and as immediate as possible. Having systems tied to external needs assessments such as qualifying for public benefits hold up systems who tend to marginalize people of color and women. As part of our goal to be an anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization, we strive to make our programs as accessible as possible. The primary way we do this is by combining resale and service together where possible. In Philadelphia and Delaware County, referred clients who are shopping for free and traditional customers enter through the same door and have access to the same inventory and level of customer service. If a client needs additional support to select appropriate clothing, our personal shoppers are there for them to offer assistance and additional education.

The Wardrobe believes accessing help when you are in need should be easy and as immediate as possible. Having systems tied to external needs assessments such as qualifying for public benefits hold up systems who tend to marginalize people of color and women. As part of our goal to be an anti-racist and anti-oppressive organization, we strive to make our programs as accessible as possible. The primary way we do this is by combining resale and service together where possible. In Philadelphia and Delaware County, referred clients who are shopping for free and traditional customers enter through the same door and have access to the same inventory and level of customer service. If a client needs additional support to select appropriate clothing, our personal shoppers are there for them to offer assistance and additional education.

Referral Partners
While The Wardrobe is open to anyone to shop, people in need of clothing and support for free come to us primarily through a referral from a partner organization, the largest of which is the PA WORKWEAR program which allows anyone receiving cash assistance (TANF) to receive clothing for training, job search, or work. Our 100+ Referral Partners are made up of a broad cross section of nonprofit organizations assist people in need.

Open Access (Self-Referral)
If someone is not able to pay for clothing, but not receiving assistance from a nonprofit or government agency, they can self-refer and access our services through our Open Access Program. Previously the Open Access Program required a small co-pay for services ($5-15), but due to the COVID19 pandemic, we are waiving any fees associated with this program.

People who contact us for Open Access appointments include those who are newly unemployed due to COVID19, those who heard about us through a friend or family member who was referred for our services, or someone who is receiving public assistance such as SNAP, housing, or medical assistance, but not eligible for the PA WORKWEAR program because they aren’t receiving cash (TANF) assistance.

Once referred or after making an appointment, participants are able to receive up to 3 appointments to meet their clothing needs through our Outfit for Life (casual clothing) or Outfit for Work (professional clothing) programs. A typical client will end up receiving up to 2 weeks of clothing along with professional and personal development support through our one-on-one consulting appointments or workshops.

The Wardrobe was established in 1995 by a group of Philadelphia women who were dedicated to helping low-income women transition into the workplace and become wage-earners. In the last 25 years, our services have expanded to meet the needs of a diverse community, including individuals of all gender identities and backgrounds who need assistance with the wardrobe and knowledge needed to secure steady employment or move to independence which is critical to achieving economic stability and the first step to economic self- sufficiency and prosperity.

In 2009, Career Wardrobe opened its first resale store to earn income to provide the organization with financial support. Today, our Philadelphia and Delaware County locations combining our resale and client services missions to provide clothing for nearly any transition: employment, adulthood, gender expression, or independence after incarceration, homelessness, or recovery. People in need of clothing can shop for free with a referral from one of our 100+ Referral Partners or at low-cost if they are not involved with a partner agency.

In 2016, the State of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services asked Career Wardrobe to expand our professional clothing programs in the five-county region. As a result, Career Wardrobe now operates PA WORKWEAR programs in Philadelphia, Delaware, and Bucks Counties, and oversees this program open to individuals on public assistance in Chester, Montgomery, and Berks Counties.

In response to the COVID19 Pandemic in 2020, The Wardrobe expanded again by taking our services online by offering virtual appointments for people who could not access our services in person due to social distancing or because they were outside our area. Virtual appointments are followed up with sending clients a personally styled Wardrobe Box in the mail. Also that year we rebranded as The Wardrobe to better reflect that we assist people with clothing not only for work, but everyday life.

Response to COVID19

Prior to the pandemic, 80% of our clients reported that they had successfully transitioned to work. When the pandemic hit, 66% had lost work or income: 46% were laid off, 30% lost hours, and 15% had their job eliminated permanently. Of those who continued working, they were employed in essential work (healthcare, retail) and were required or needed to continue working even if they had concerns for their safety. More than a third of our clients reported facing food, housing, or financial insecurity due to the pandemic, but most service providers were moving programs online and technology was a barrier for many to access help.

Like most social service providers, the COVID19 pandemic has drastically altered The Wardrobe’s ability to provide direct services and for our clients to access us for assistance. The Wardrobe has quickly changed our programs to make them more open to people in need without requiring a referral or for someone to come on site for services at a time when using public transportation increases risk for contracting the virus. We are conducting virtual appointments via phone or video conference and sending Wardrobe Boxes with clothing and toiletries or personal care items directly to our clients’ homes. We have also partnered with the City of Philadelphia to provide scrubs people who need easy to fit and clean clothing while they are in quarantine.