A number of instances per week, you could find Christophe Waggoner digging via piles of garments at a thrift retailer in central Texas. In contrast to a number of the different buyers, although, he is on the lookout for objects that may be made into Halloween costumes.

“I am attempting to see if something catches my consideration,” Waggoner says, “It is normally both shiny, furry or sparkly.”

His imaginative and prescient: To create costumes out of thrifted treasures and donate them to these in want.

“I would like all people, all the youngsters, their mother and father, no matter, to really feel like they’re getting the identical factor that any person went out and purchased,” Waggoner says. 

At his house in Austin, he washes, glues and sews the costumes he finds, redesigning the clothes into one thing new.

He then hosts occasions within the fall the place youngsters can select their Halloween costumes without cost. Whereas he is been doing it for 9 years, he says this yr has been the busiest.

Customers spend a median of $37.62 on a single Halloween costume this yr, an 11% enhance from 2024, in accordance with the Nationwide Retail Federation. Earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, costumes have been nearly $7 lower than they’re now. Tariffs on Chinese language imports additionally contribute to greater costs.

When households are compelled to chop prices, it is simple to remove a single-use merchandise like a dressing up. However it additionally comes on the expense of childhood recollections.

That is the place Waggoner steps in, giving youngsters and oldsters the flexibility to rejoice Halloween it doesn’t matter what their monetary state of affairs could be. Regardless of the affect it has on his personal funds — he nonetheless works full-time at 62 years previous and spends greater than $5,000 yearly on storage for the costumes —he says the payoff is value it. 

“The aim is to make individuals higher than they have been earlier than the occasion,” he says, “If there’s any person there that will help you, then you definitely’re greater than more likely to flip round and assist any person else.”

Which is strictly what occurs when households return or donate their previous costumes to his trigger. 

And to anybody who would possibly say it is “only a Halloween costume,” Waggoner has a easy sentiment: “All people ought to deserve an opportunity to be a child.”