Latest Interviews

Q&A with Marné Ream, Manager of The Wardrobe, Norristown, Pennsylvania

The Interview

When did the Wardrobe as a whole, and then the Wardrobe Norristown specifically, open for business? The Wardrobe opened in 1995 and has a few different models all with the same mission of providing free clothes to end clothing insecurities and boost confidence for people in need. Those who qualify can shop for free, while everything in the stores is also available for the public to purchase. In the last few years The Wardrobe has grown to serve people in seven different locations in the Philadelphia area, including and all of the surrounding suburban counties. Norristown was the first Montgomery County site to open its doors in September 2025. We are located inside the Senior Activities Center and are thrilled to support this community of seniors so closely.

What types of items does the Wardrobe Norristown sell and what services, if any, does it provide? The Wardrobe has adult sized clothing and accessories for both men and women. We pride ourselves on the number of people we clothe each year. In 2025 we provided free clothing to over 8,000 people across all locations. Those who are eligible can receive free clothing services up to four times a calendar year; shoppers and donors are welcome any time! Making sure that free clothing appointments have the same opportunities to choose clothes that reflect their journey remains a top priority. For people who are looking to advance their lives, having the right clothes for the occasion can make a huge difference in confidence. The Wardrobe in Norristown is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10-4.

How does the Wardrobe Norristown source its donations? Everything you see in our stores, and even some things you don’t see, like undergarments and toiletries for participants, have been generously donated to us by individuals who support our mission. We are not able to run our stores without community members who give back. Right now, we are needing Fall donations, especially for men. Generally, items with darker colors, thicker fabrics like flannel, fleece, and layering pieces like sweaters and jackets and coats are all needed right now. We also always need accessories for both men and women like shoes, hats, scarves, etc.
Donors should also rest assured that if we decide not to keep items coming in, we recycle them with an organization called Helpsy. They work in a variety of different ways to keep clothing use cyclical and out of landfills. Knowing we have an outlet for pieces we pass on is such a good partnership to have!

Which clothing line sees the most movement at Wardrobe Norristown?Typically my most frequent shoppers are the ladies at the senior center who are often looking for nice things to wear to church! We see a similar number of both men and women coming in for appointments and they usually take a variety of tops, bottoms and accessories. It is hard to say what moves the most, but it seems like everybody likes to look fancy in jewelry! Though we don’t typically have much that is designed specifically for men, it’s not uncommon to see our male participants and shoppers buying a necklace or earrings (even if it’s for a special lady in their lives.)

Does the Wardrobe Norristown hold any special events? Sometimes Norristown will have special events outside of The Wardrobe special events. Over the summer, the Senior Center held a “Senior Prom” and we provided some gowns and jewelry for those who wanted to wear something special. It was such a fun day! We are hoping to do more collaborations with the Senior Center in the future so BOLO for those!
Broadly, The Wardrobe hosts quarterly “Open Wardrobe” events that target a need our participants may have. In September we focused on folks getting back into the employment field by providing free headshots, in addition to their regular appointment for clothing. On Wednesday, December 9th or Reentry Open Wardrobe will have additional resources specifically geared towards that population of people. We have a number of great community partners we will reach out to with invitations to send folks our way on this day.
We are also open to hosting any kind of event that comes our way like a Birthday Party, or Sip and Shop. If someone comes to us with an idea, we will find a way to make it happen!

What does the Wardrobe Norristown need from the community the most at this time? The Wardrobe in Norristown needs continued support from the local community from shoppers, donors, and community partners.

Generally, local involvement is something we want to focus on growing.We have found that at this particular location, word of mouth is one of the best ways to get people through the doors.

We hope to make meaningful connections with others organizations who also serve the community in any capacity. From individual shoppers to other non-profit organizations, The Wardrobe in Norristown has a lot of room to expand our current services and we are excited to learn more about Norristown and its existing offerings.