Why Come to A Clothes Swap?
Swapping adds life to your clothes and clothes to your life.
Adding life to your clothes is good for the planet.
And adding clothes to your life is good for you!
Why Clothes Swaps Are Good For The Planet
Buying new clothes isn't kind to the planet and every new item has an impact. Nylon and polyester are made from petrochemicals and they aren't biodegradable. Nylon creates nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas – and polyester production requires huge amounts of water.
Even natural fabrics create problems - cotton is the most pesticide intensive crop in the world and wool workers are affected by the chemicals that are used for sheep dip. Viscose and rayon are made from wood pulp but forest is often cleared to create plantations and the pulp can be treated with hazardous chemicals.
And we haven't even got to the bleaches, dyes and flame retardants that are used when the clothes are made, the working conditions of the people who are involved in making them or the problem of disposing of them when they reach the end of their life.
This doesn't make us happy because we love our clothes. We think that clothes should be a source of joy. As well as keeping us cosy in the winter and cool in the summer, they brighten our day and boost our confidence.
We don't want our passion to harm the planet or the people and animals that live on it but eco-friendly organic clothing isn't within everybody's price range – and that's where clothes swaps come to the rescue. They help to save the planet because they extend the life of our clothes and reduce the amount of new clothes that we buy.
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Why Clothes Swaps Are Good For Us
Clothes Swaps enable us to revamp our style without having to splash the cash. And – as if this wasn't enough – if you become a swapper you'll discover that clothes swaps are fun. They are much more fun than trawling around the shops. They are friendly and sociable and not intimidating at all.
Many women come on their own and there is always time to chat between the drop-off and the start of the swap – and to compare the treasures that you've found afterwards. And we are certainly happy to chat to you - we like to hear about your new-to-you items. As well as showing off the treasures that you have discovered, you can have fun celebrating the finds of others. And it's great when someone's new-found passion is an item that you brought along.
Our swappers come back again and again so if you come to more than one swap, you'll start to see familiar faces. And even if you find it hard to find clothes that fit well when you are shopping (and let's face it, this applies to most of us!) you can still find items at a swap.
We bring lots of items so if few swappers turn up, you'll still have lots of choice. And if lots of swappers turn up, you won't lose out either because more swappers means more clothes.
Swapping allows you to test styles and patterns that may be outside your comfort zone so the more you swap, the more you can develop your sense of style. You can give your new look a proper test drive too. Instead of a quick glance in a changing room mirror, you can wear your new items in real life and discover if they suit your lifestyle as well as your looks.
And you can wave goodbye to the problem of having a wardrobe full of clothes but 'nothing to wear' because when you are regularly revamping your clothes, you won't get stuck in a rut. You may come to your first swap for practical, clutter clearing reasons but you'll probably come back because it's fun.