Ready for a new wardrobe, but don't want to break the bank buying new pieces? Consider a clothing swap! Not only is it a free way to mix up your outfits, but it is also eco-friendly, keeping clothing out of the landfill and avoiding the huge environmental toll of creating new garments. Gather a few close friends, or even a larger group, and bring articles of clothing to exchange for fun new looks- it's actually really easy!
After participating in several swaps of our own, we offer these essential tips before hosting your own clothing exchange.
- each participant should bring only 5-10 pieces to trade, any more than that quickly becomes overwhelming...everything should be clean, in good repair, still in style, and appropriate for the current season
- choose a location with plenty of space to spread out the clothing, or bring some rolling racks to hang items...also consider having a changing room on site
- bring clothing that fit a range of sizes, and feel free to bring a few shoes and accessories as well...make sure every participant will have items to choose, regardless of her size
- don't make the party difficult by trying to coordinate food and drink- let the clothes be the star of the show, or stick to simple appetizers and a bottle of bubbly
- your friends shouldn't have to take the exact number of items that they brought- approximate numbers are fine, and usually people will take less than they brought
- at the end, the participants can reclaim their clothing that wasn't chosen, or designate a person to take everything left over to a local charity... at our local Phoenix swap, we started giving the remaining clothes to an outreach with refugees
- consider making your swap a regular event, such as once a season, or host a themed exchange such as "children's," "home decor," or "formal night"