KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
It's a rare sight to see 3,600 clothing items from an acclaimed American designer on display in Rankin Inlet.
There isn't a stitch remaining after a large crowd finished selecting free clothes from the Tommy Hilfiger line in Rankin Inlet this past month. - photo courtesy George Dunkerley
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And it's even rarer to see them given away for free.
Yet, that was the case in Rankin this past month when hundreds of people descended upon the community hall to select from among the numerous items up for grabs.
Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre executive director George Dunkerley said the project was put together by a large number of organizations to donate the clothing to underprivileged people.
He said the original contact was made with the friendship centre's national office in Ottawa, and it spread across the country from there through its national network.
"The clothes we got were routed through our council office in Yellowknife," said Dunkerley.
"Some went to friendship centres in the Northwest Territories and Whitehorse, and the rest of the allotment went east to Nunavut.
"The collection was quite impressive, with polo shirts, T-shirts, jeans, heavy coats and quite a bit of summer material like shorts, golf shirts, those types of things."
Dunkerley said the friendship centre only advertised the give-away the day before the big event.
He said everyone who showed up at the community hall were given a ticket entitling them to three pieces of clothing.
"We had a bunch of friendship centre promotional items put out the people could have, as well.
"If there was still clothing left after a person went through, they were allowed to go back to the table and get a second ticket.
"There weren't very many second tickets given out."
Dunkerley said the Tommy Hilfiger clothes are made of high-quality material, and aren't cheap to buy when paying retail prices.
He said upwards of 300 people were trying to crowd into the community hall at the same time to take advantage of the offer.
"When I went out into the arena foyer, people were lined up from the hall door past the canteen, out the back doors, back in the doors, and around the inside of the building twice.
"Everyone stayed well-behaved during the event, with absolutely no pushing or shoving at all that I saw.
"A few ladies tried to race each other back to the table for a second ticket, but that was about it.
"It was incredible."
