Wardrobe · 120 min
Hold a clothes swap
Friends bring clothes they no longer wear, take home what they will. A new wardrobe for nothing, and an afternoon together.
Most wardrobes hold clothes that are still good but no longer worn: the wrong size, the wrong colour, a change of style. A clothes swap passes them on to someone who will wear them, and makes a social afternoon of it.
The steps
Four small steps,in your own time.
Invite a handful of friends, neighbours or colleagues for an afternoon. Ask each person to bring a few clean, good-condition items they no longer wear.
Set up a space: clothes laid out by type on tables or a bed, a mirror, and somewhere private to try things on.
Let everyone browse and take what they will genuinely wear. Keep it relaxed: no counting, no swapping like for like.
Agree what happens to what is left: a local reuse group, a textile collection point, or the next swap.
The reason
Why it helps
Swapping gives clothes a longer life and lets you try a new style without spending. It is also a good reason to gather people, and to clear a wardrobe without simply throwing things away. Seeing a favourite old jacket on a friend can be a pleasure in itself.
A gentle variation
If an afternoon is too much, swap one bag of clothes with one friend. Children's clothes, outgrown quickly, are ideal for swapping between families.
WE · TRIBE
Try itwith someone.
This needs other people. Invite someone who is new to the area, or who rarely gets out; a swap is an easy way to meet. If you care for someone, they might enjoy choosing for others or giving advice.
Try it today
This week, invite a few friends to a clothes swap and set a date, asking each to bring a few clean items they no longer wear.
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