Fair Fashion Friday: The Clothing Swap Guide

You may have noticed that items from clothing swaps feature prominently in my wardrobe. Several times a week I find myself wearing an item previously loved by a friend. I love clothing swaps for their gentleness on the environment and my pocketbook.

This week clothing swap guru and budget queen Mandy shares her guide to throwing your own clothing swap.

Vest (Mossimo), Jeans (Old Navy), Shoes (TOMS), long sleeve white tee (J. Crew) – all swap items | Tee: Everlane | Gloves: Eileen Fisher | Necklace: deezdoggs (upcycled accessories handmade by artist Leeza Meksin)  

Clothing swaps: Easy on the earth and your wallet

For those who have never been, clothing swaps are basically *free* shopping for new-to-you clothes, accessories, etc. You bring a few items, a bag, a box to give; take a few items, a bag, a box home. We usually donate any remaining items to a local charity. It’s a win-win-win situation.

Initially, I attended swaps because the decision to stay at home with my young children and the subsequent loss of income meant that my husband and I had to make a serious plan to reduce our monthly spending. But, whether or not you’re on a shoestring budget, reducing your general consumption of new clothing is a great way to support an ethical and sustainable style habit and reduce your ecological footprint.

I’ve grown to love hosting and attending swaps because I always find great pieces without opening my purse. Plus, I get to try on clothes with friends who will give me immediate feedback and harness the courage to experiment with clothes I wouldn’t usually grab off the rack at a store. I always plan to wear a camisole and leggings to make trying on clothes easy – but wear what you will (depending on the modesty of your group)!

I’m convinced. How do I host a swap?

1. Figure out your space and limitations. I hosted a swap in a basement/garage. A few friends brought rolling clothes racks and we tied a rope between the poles to hang up clothes. We laid pants over the side of a pick up truck. We piled clothes on a spare bed. I’ve seen clothes hung on front porches and draped off furniture. Get creative – the more space you can use the more people you can invite – which means more options to peruse!

2. Make your guest list. I always think the more the merrier – that way you get a variety of sizes and styles. Limit your invitations based on your space. Using a service like evite will let you know how many people to expect (and it will send an automatic reminder for you!). Invite good friends, your neighbors, the girl with the super awesome duds you see at the park… the possibilities are endless.

3. Invite your friends 4-6 weeks in advance and give parameters, if any. This gives everyone time to clean out their closets and set aside goods they are ready to let go. If you are only looking for the upcoming season or only want people to bring up to 10 items because of space issues, let them know. We encourage people to bring a snack to share and BYOB. Let people know when they can come and what time the swapping will begin – and whether or not they should bring hangers.

4. The night before or the day of the swap, prepare your space. Where can people try on garments? Set up mirrors in convenient places. Set up racks or lines to hang clothes.

5. When the event ‘begins’, allow time for people to arrive and set up clothing. We usually wait about 45 minutes before we start selecting items. If people come late, they miss out on the first pass. Also, I always invite friends who can’t make it to still drop off clothing they want to pass on – because letting go of clothing can be so liberating (and more for me to browse)!

6. When you’re ready to swap, give a good-natured ‘first pass’. We usually encourage everyone to pick up 5 or fewer items on their first time through the clothes. This allows everyone to check out most of the items without everything getting snatched up immediately. I have to say, we have a pretty laid back group – so if your friends are cutthroat about their fashion, you might want to give more specific directions (you get to peruse in the order you arrived, you get to pick two items on the first pass, two items on the next, etc.)

7. After the first pass, free for all.

8. Donate what’s left. Ask friends to help you bag or box up items that weren’t selected and take them to a local charity. Our last swap ended with a donation of 14 trash bags full of great clothes!

What are you waiting for? Plan your first swap today (and please invite me!). Your wallet, the earth, and your wardrobe will thank you!

Mandy Wallace, the Stay at Home Money Manager, is getting personal about personal finance. She’s eager to share the plans and tricks that have helped her successfully manage a household while raising two young boys on the cheap. Be sure to check out her series 31 Days to a Home Budget.