Spotlight on People, Planet and Prom Dresses

Only about 16% of donated clothing is reused or resold in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The rest often ends up in landfills or incinerators. 

For Naeelah Desanges ’27, thrifting is a strategy to help address that major sustainability issue. It’s also the inspiration behind her work with Dresses to Dreams. The pop-up event, run by Bentley students, offers free, gently used prom clothing to local high school students along with short sessions on confidence-building. 

“I grew up loving science — anything to do with nature, biology and ecology — and in high school I had the opportunity to organize a clothing swap and prom dress drive,” says Desanges, a Management major with a concentration in Supply Chain and Operations Management and a minor in Earth, Environment and Global Sustainability. “That was my first time being exposed to the idea of sustainability within fashion. But the ability to meet a genuine need in the community with available resources is an aspect that grounds my love for sustainability. It’s not just about buying less or being more conscious about the planet. There are things that we can do every day, specifically in clothing and fashion.” 

With that in mind, Desanges began exploring careers in fashion, sustainability and business. She was particularly moved after “going down the rabbit hole” of greenwashing. The deceptive marketing strategy misleads consumers to believe a company is more sustainable than it is. And that raised a question Desanges wanted to solve.  

“What if we could benefit the planet from the inside? Business is going to be the people or the place where you can effect the most change,” she says. “Instead of putting the burden on consumers, explore how to help companies take responsibility of the effects their products have on the environment.” 

That kind of big-picture thinking drove her college search. “Bentley was one of the only places I felt had all my interests: sustainability, creativity and the interpersonal side of business. The triple bottom line — people, planet and profit — was something I hadn’t heard about until I came to Admitted Students Day and talked to someone from the Office of Sustainability. I saw multiple opportunities to grow, so that’s why I ended up choosing Bentley.” 

Stepping into a Passion  

Dresses to Dreams was put on hold during the pandemic until 2025 when Desanges and the Honors Program Council decided to revive it. Desanges and three other honors students — Leticia De Souza ’27, Lillian Flaherty ’26 and Paige Trager ’27 — spent the previous year holding a dress drive and connecting with potential speakers for breakout educational sessions. 

“We knew this was a legit program and started asking ourselves how we could lay the groundwork to bring it back,” Desanges recalls. “We loved the idea of personal development, especially focusing on young women who were looking to go to college and how they could see themselves at Bentley.  

“I was nervous applying to Bentley, but it helped knowing there’s such strong support for women in business on campus. And how cool would it be to empower these young women early and show them that they it’s possible for them too?” 

Being part of Bentley’s Women’s Leadership Program, Desanges already had a network of potential speakers for breakout sessions on topics on women’s empowerment in the workplace. Desanges also recruited Honors students to host a Q&A on “burning questions about college.” 

“I think attendees get a lot out of learning from different voices,” Desanges says. 

Taking the Lead 

Seeing the success of the Dresses to Dreams re-launch in 2025 was a pivotal moment for Desanges.  

“I’ve always loved positions of leadership, not necessarily because they’re an opportunity for me to show my strengths, but really because I realized that’s where you can have the most effect,” says Desanges. “Finding ways to help my community is where my skill set and passion really align.”  

In an Interpersonal Relations course (MG 240), for example, Desanges learned to look at leadership from a new perspective.  

“After taking that class, I better understood group dynamics,” she recalls. “I’ve always been a great collaborator but understanding that there’s a way you show up in a group, especially when it comes to delegating and listening. I love talking and sharing my ideas but there’s so much to be learned from taking a step back and listening. Ideas are so much better when they’re bounced off other people.” 

Sustainability courses and working as an intern on Bentley’s Office of Sustainability, have provided a framework for Desanges to better align experiences with her passion for sustainability.  

Having the language to have one-on-one conversations on sustainable lifestyles during Dresses to Dream events is a win-win for Desanges — and a message that aligns with young attendees as thrifting gains popularity. According to GlobalData, 54% of Gen Z shoppers prefer secondhand options when available.  

“Extending the life of clothing by thrifting or buying secondhand has been destigmatized for my generation, but it was fun to have conversations about why it matters,” she says.

Finding Her Rhythm 

Desanges credits both her Management major and concentration in Supply Chain and Operations Management — focusing on the process of bringing a product from raw material to market — for allowing her to express different skill sets. 

“I love my management classes, especially learning about interpersonal communication skills,” she says. “But I also have an analytical side to me. I fell in love with the supply chain piece because I was able to tie in those interests plus sustainability.”  

She believes that the most efficient supply chains are those that are potentially sustainable. “They can be quicker and less carbon intensive too. If you can find the most efficient route and it’s done right, you’re helping the planet, helping people and making a profit. That’s an interesting intersection.” 

Dresses to Dreams ties it all together in a compelling way. “Leading a team to make a vision come to life was so rewarding,” Desanges says. This year she served as senior adviser for the event, which held pop-up shops at Waltham High School, Somerville High School and Watertown Boys and Girls Club in February. “I applied what I learned in classes but also satisfied those passions for sustainability, fashion, collaboration and empowering my community.”  

She adds, “I had this aha moment of ‘OK, this is what I’m chasing, this is what I’m looking for.’ Those moments where you’re helping people walk away with not only a dress, but with more confidence and a stronger sense of empowerment about their future.”