This was previously published in our April 2026 issue.
At the forefront of Greek life is clothing, which fuels the aesthetics for events and Greek life as a whole. Expensive brands, intricate pieces, and other costs are not rare to see — but is the price tag a burden?
In Greek life, a member is required to pay for a portion of a house, various social and philanthropic activities, and clothing; on top of paying the cost of college tuition.
Makenzie Monfredi, Delta Zeta Kappa Xi member and EHS 2024 graduate, notes the importance of philanthropies in Greek life. Philanthropy, defined as: “voluntary action for the public good through donating money, time, or expertise to support causes,” is a huge financial input and output for Greek life.
Most Greek life organizations primarily gain funding by strengthening their reputation, fostering alumni donations, and building community partnerships. Although funds are raised to be donated to charities, networking allows for increased engagement, boosting alumni donations, and support of the chapters.
Donations to the house from events can help take financial pressure off of members, but a huge financial need still remains to cover housing and fashion. Anna Bonaventura, EHS graduate and an active member of Phi Mu Lambda lota at East Carolina University, recalls the struggles to necessarily pay for her dues or housing, but to accentuate her wardrobe with the proper attire.
“I personally have never had an issue paying my monthly dues,” Bonaventura said. “The one thing I will say, which can sometimes add stress, is feeling like you need to buy a new outfit for every event.”
The money for these expensive clothes comes from the members themselves, but there are also alternatives to reduce the amount of cash spent on outfits.
The current Panhellenic President of College of Charleston, Bennett Sanborn, finds E.Closet and Nuuly to be some of the most important resources for new members.
“I’ve been on the recruitment side, and my biggest piece of big sister advice is to get the Nuuly app,” Sanborn said. “Get Nuuly before you go through recruitment, get Nuuly before you go to college. I love Nuuly.”
The Nuuly app has become a face for renting clothing for different events. It is a clothing rental subscription that allows users to rent six items a month for $98. Users are able to buy, return, or swap articles of clothing directly from the app. It features on-trend brands such as Anthropologie and Free People.
This allows members to have a new array of clothing per month without breaking the bank. Many other apps are also specialized in clothing rentals and resales, like E. Closet being specifically designed for college students.
Rental options have also increasingly become a popular way to stay fashionable. Students already have to pay for tuition and with an opportunity to save money, this helps those showing off Greek Life stay on fleek.
