A clothing swap party is kind of like going to a very eclectic warehouse where everything is free. Sounds pretty good, especially when you consider the environmental impact – the textile industry, which uses large amounts of chemicals and water, is considered one of the worst polluters in the world.
Professional clothing swap organisations, like
Brisbane Clothing Exchange and
Kids Clothes Swap, do all the hard work for you. If you choose this option, all you need to do is show up with your old clothes. Organisers will pay you a currency (usually tickets or buttons) based on their condition, which you can spend at the event. These parties often charge an admission price as well.
It's easy, and a lot more fun, to host your own party. Invite your friends or check sites like
Gumtree and
Meetup to connect with like minded people (recommended if you are a different clothing size or have a style that differs from your friends.) You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you wish; simply set up the clothes and allow your guests to pick and choose as they please, or organise your own currency system for fairness. It's also fun to organise simple games (like rock, paper, scissors) to determine who wins when two guests want the same item.
To really get in to the spirit, make up a themed mix tape – songs like Fashion by David Bowie, Raspberry Beret by Prince and Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley are appropriate – and lay out nibblies like
these cookies from
Sweetcheeks Cookies and Cakes,
edible bracelets or
gingerbread men which your friends can 'clothe' with icing.
There are a lot of good reasons to host or attend a clothing
swap party, so start clearing out your wardrobe now to make way for all the new stuff!
