Founded by Shamine Linton in 2006, Sharia’s Closet provides free, emergency clothing to those experiencing financial hardship or crisis. The idea first began after Linton first immigrated to the US. Along with her family, she began taking clothes, food, and household items back to Jamaica twice a year to help her friends and family.
Linton was inspired by her own experiences during her childhood, and the resilience of her mother—a teenage mom who worked hard to become a nurse in New York.
“I had clothing insecurities growing up, and I felt less than in different settings—even immigrating to America and going to high school here. As a teenager, fashion trends become a status symbol, and kids can sometimes be so insensitive,” says Linton. “I wanted to create a space where people were seen without having the price tag attached if there were a crisis situation.”…