Threads of Convenience
Unraveling Ann Arbor’s diverse clothing options for U-M students
—By Patty McLeod, Brienne Bordes, Sabrina Xue, and Raven Perry
Living as a student on campus at the University of Michigan can be challenging without access to a car. Students often have trouble finding accessible, affordable clothing stores for the different types of events they attend. However, Ann Arbor has multiple clothing stores within walking distance or a short bus ride from the Diag with various styles of clothing and prices. Every student has an option to purchase just minutes from where they’re standing.
Ragstock (337 E Liberty St)
Within a 12-minute walk from the Diag, Ragstock is a clothing store with vintage and new clothing options and has various styles of clothing that are fit for anyone. One of their employees, Nina Groll, describes the store as having “trendy clothing for high school and college-aged students as well as sustainable and affordable options.” New clothing prices range from $8 to $30 depending on the item, including casual t-shirts and going-out dresses and tops. The vintage options, while on the pricier side (ranging from $15 to $40), provide environmentally friendly shirts, sweatshirts, and pants. With these ranges of prices, students can find brands such as Nike, Lee, Levi’s, Champion, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Wrangler, and more. In the fall months, Ragstock is filled with Halloween-themed sweaters and walls of costumes at an affordable price. Additionally, throughout the year, the store has accessories including heels, jewelry, sunglasses, and headpieces with various pops of colors and designs.
Salvation Army (1621 S State St)
Located a 10-minute bus ride and a 30-minute walk from the Diag, Salvation Army is the biggest thrift store within walking distance of central campus. With prices as low as one dollar for t-shirts, it is one of the most affordable places to shop for college students. Despite the price point, the Salvation Army offers a variety of styles, aesthetics, and types of clothing. From winter jackets to tiny tank tops, the clothes found here cater to all genders, ages, and people. Thrifting enthusiasts can find a pair of vintage Levi 1937 “Japan” 501’s, or a 1995 Karl Kani jacket depending on the day and their luck. Part of the joy of shopping at Salvation Army is the constantly shifting assortment of clothes. Given the nature of being a thrift shop, the Salvation Army is one of the most sustainable ways to shop on the University of Michigan campus and carries a plethora of brands such as Champion, Levi’s, American Eagle, Carhartt, Aerie, Adidas, and more. As Michigan student Daniel Yang says, “You can find something for any occasion here.”
Bivouac (336 S State St)
A mere 5-minute walk from the Diag, Bivouac is located in the heart of campus, directly across from the Walgreens and M-Den. With freezing temperatures sweeping through the city, Bivouac boasts a large collection of winter apparel, including but not limited to scarves, hats, fleeces, jackets, windbreakers, sweaters, and more. With this expansive selection of styles comes an equally diverse brand selection of higher-end brands, including Patagonia, Arcteryx, Canada Goose, Agolde, and Vuori. In the winter months, students can shield themselves from the biting cold with an insulated Arcteryx jacket, or a puffy Canada Goose parka. During fall, students can enjoy the cover of a Rails Berkshire flannel, or a Paige Premium denim overcoat. Frequent customer Aryan Kini says, “The quality of the sweaters at Bivouac is so nice, they’re always warm and soft.” However, with the quality comes a higher price point, with most sweaters being priced around $80, and jackets costing well over $100. Aside from winter apparel, Bivouac also sells a variety of spring and summer pieces, for all people in all seasons.
State & Liberty (212 S Main)
Located just south of Liberty Avenue, State & Liberty Clothing is renowned for its athletic-fit menswear selection. Only fifteen minutes from Central Campus, the original location of this nationwide company started by Michigan alumni Steven Fisher and Lee Moffie offers everything from dress pants and suits to polo shirts, hoodies, and jackets, perfect for a variety of formal events. Their products come in a range of colors, and although they primarily sell athletic, stretch fits, they additionally offer many of their tops made-to-measure. As a high-end location, their products are significantly more costly, with t-shirts and polos ranging from $40-80 and pants and suits from upwards of $100. However, their goods are designed with customer convenience in mind, with a primary selling point being the washability and lack of a need to visit a dry cleaner. A unique feature of this store compared to other clothing stores in Ann Arbor is the originality; State & Liberty is its own clothing brand, and thus only carries its own pieces. The business touts its quality athletic wear, and a variety of wares ensure they have anything you may need to fill out your professional closet.
Pitaya (315 S State St)
Pitaya is one of the favorite shopping destinations for students of the University of Michigan. The store is located on State Street in Ann Arbor, right next door to the famous M-Den. Pitaya not only presents much modern and stylish clothing but its main attraction and feature is being a store that contains all the contemporary aspects while keeping the price at an accessible level. Similar to State & Liberty, Pitaya manufactures its clothing, and therefore only sells Pitaya brand clothing. The staff at Pitaya are known for their friendly attitude and they greet customers with a warm welcome. Given the diversity of the selection presented at the store, budget-conscious consumers who are looking for a certain kind of trendy piece often find themselves shopping here. Fortunately, at Pitaya you can find an array of options such as a stylish milky-white short leather skirt designed with a slit, perfect for going out on the weekends with your friends. To complete the look, you can pair this skirt with a silky cherry red lace top that will add a bold touch. The store is a must-go-to for students who would like to have a contemporary image. On top of that, its State Street location allows students to do their shopping with a short break between classes or with a long leisure weekend with their friends. The store attracts mostly women. However, the wide selection of its styles and sizes makes the shop popular for everyone who would like to update their wardrobe.
Online
Whether they need comfortable clothes, trendy outfits for exciting night events, or everyday wearable items, students can easily purchase everything online. A shared trait between all the listed online stores in this list is that they all sell their personal brand of clothing, as thrifting and reusable fashion is hard to manage in an online setting. However, despite only offering one brand to choose from, each online store still boasts a wide array of staples and pieces to choose from. People interested in following the new trends will especially appreciate the wide range of trendy and budget-friendly styles ASOS offers. The site is user-friendly and student discounts are also given. Quality basics and essentials at affordable prices make Uniqlo a great option for students who enjoy minimalistic designs characteristic of the modern age.
Girls seeking even more options can go for Pretty Little Thing and also Fashion Nova. At Fashion Nova, there are many styles from glamourous dresses to comfortable joggers that suit any student’s budget. The brand is pretty well-known for its trendy pieces, an ideal choice for those who want to be different. In addition, if you’re looking to spice things up a bit, why not take a peek at Pretty Little Thing? This trendy fashion destination is all about making a statement. One item you might want to consider is their chic faux leather mini skirt. It’s the perfect combination of style and affordability. Made with high-quality fabric, this skirt gives off modern vibes and an edgy charm. It’s the ideal choice for students who want to look fashionable without breaking the bank.
H&M’s online store provides stylish designs for both men and women at a reasonable price where they are balanced between fashion and affordability. It offers timeless, classic pieces that are both functional and well constructed but at a somewhat greater price than Everlane, which in itself is famous for its ethical approach to the production of high-quality basics. For students who love sustainability and durable clothing, Everlane would be perfect.
Online, Zara provides both men and women with numerous high-fashion trends. With its mid-priced products, Zara is a good option for students to purchase trendy clothes without having to spend too much money. Imagine Zara’s flexible ribbed knit sweater in a calming hue of heather gray – a must-have in any wardrobe that effortlessly combines comfort and style. Made from top-notch cotton, this sweater emits a timeless charm, offering the ideal combination of coziness and trendy elegance. Zara is constantly updating its collections; thus, it becomes very hard to stop finding new things.
All these online stores have so many clothes of various styles, costs, and also types. No matter what occasion or style is preferred, there is always a wide range of University of Michigan fashion available online.
Feature photo: Bivouac on State Street, by Patty McLeod