Nicole D’Silva | The Chronicle
As thrifting continues to be popular among teens, Mason High School (MHS) spirit wear store The Comet Zone is taking thrifting a step further by combining sustainability and school pride.
Beginning January 2026, The Comet Zone will start a new campaign called Green for Green. They will be launching a thrift rack in the school with second-hand apparel at a lower price, from about $1 to $3.
MHS junior Maitri Bhavsar is a member of The Comet Zone’s Special Orders Department. She said she got the idea to include a thrift rack in the store from teacher Jessica Thompson, quickly pitching the idea to other Comet Zone members. The Comet Zone currently prices their apparel from about $15 to $55.
“A lot of people get discouraged from buying from The Comet Zone because it [costs] a good amount of money,” Bhavsar said. “I feel that this will also help us build revenue because it’s cheaper, more people can afford it and it also gives back to our community.”
MHS senior and The Comet Zone member Camryn Yost works on the Green for Green team. Yost also said that the low price of second-hand items can help promote The Comet Zone, but the campaign’s success will depend on student participation.
“The campaign makes spirit wear more accessible,” Yost said. “Since the price for these items will be reduced, more students will be able to purchase and feel connected to school pride without worrying about the price. Students should be involved because this project relies heavily on their participation, whether through donating items, purchasing items, or promoting our campaign [because] their involvement is key to our success as we want this to be student-driven.”
Yost said the campaign is more than just a thrift rack and will be a schoolwide project that includes collaboration with the Special Education department.
“By involving [Special Education] students in participating in everyday tasks such as washing, sorting, and hanging the donated apparel, we are giving them the hands-on opportunity to build real-life skills that they can carry with them into their future jobs and daily lives,” Yost said. “It gives the students a sense of accomplishment and pride as they will be playing a very important role in helping us bring our campaign to life.”
(Left to right) MHS senior Camryn Yost, junior Maitri Bhavsar and senior Amelie Berning discuss ideas for the Green for Green thrift campaign.
MHS senior Amelie Berning is a member of The Comet Zone and the Green for Green team as well. She also said she thinks the students of the special education department helping with the campaign would be beneficial.
“I think it’d be really cool for them to be a part of Green for Green too,” Berning said. “[They can] be proud that they’re helping out with the [campaign]. They’re a part of reselling clothes and improving sustainability at Mason.”
Berning is also a member of the Animal Shelter Alliance (ASA). She said the thrift rack may not accept all donations if they are not in good condition, and will instead turn them into animal toys for donation in collaboration with ASA.
“I’m thrilled that our club can now recycle and repurpose extra material from Green for Green to support homeless animals,” Berning said. “Visiting shelters can feel heavy, but walking in with toys and donations for the dogs and cats is what makes ASA and everyone involved truly special. I’m excited that The Comet Zone and the Mason community will be part of that impact as well.”
Though Green for Green aims to partner with many MHS departments, they have also found connections within their own team. The group said they have quickly bonded despite being formed in late October. Bhavsar said she greatly appreciates the students she works with.
“If I were the only person working on this, I could not have gotten it this far,” Bhavsar said. “The fact that I’m working with three other smart, amazing girls is the only reason why this campaign has gone so far. You get all these good ideas if you collaborate with other students.”
Bhavsar said that since The Comet Zone is fully student-run, the Green for Green team’s initiatives allow them to get hands-on experience.
“The fact that students themselves are doing this broadens the horizons of their capabilities,” Bhavsar said. “A lot of people don’t realize that kids can do this much.”
While the campaign focuses on selling affordable spirit wear, the name Green for Green is not about money. Berning said there was concern that the name would sound like a money grab.
“[The name] is more [about] sustainability and our Mason colors and Mason spirit,” Berning said. “I think that’s a really good campaign name.”
Berning said she is optimistic about Green for Green. She said that if it is successful enough, it can help students later on.
“I think it’s a really good idea for years to come,” Berning said. “And I think it will continue on. If it gets big enough, we could even have a special department for Green for Green and for our thrift campaign.”
The Green for Green team said they hope to be more inclusive using the thrift rack and that Mason students feel connected to each other with the accessible spirit wear.
“I feel like the [thrift rack] is better for kids,” Bhavsar said. “[Those] that are new to the school or people that just moved here want apparel to wear so they can feel more at home. They want to fit in. They want to be a Comet. So buying apparel for cheaper helps them feel that way.”
