My first clothing exchange

clothing exchange australia

When I was young one of my favorite game was dress ups. My mum kept a lot of her clothes from the late 70s and early 80s.
They sat in large garbage bags in her closet. A treasure trove for the imaginative kids that we were. My siblings and the neighborhood kids would regularly ransack the pile, making a mess as we put together worlds built on the outfits we assembled. You could say that from then I have always had an affiliation for second hand clothes.

Where I grew up there were no malls or buildings worthy of being called a shopping center (at least to a girl in her teens). The next town over had a handful of shops that my friends and I would trawl through for that magic outfit. As much as I loved doing the circuits with my friends I undoubtedly preferred second hand clothes.

What the area lacked in popular clothes stores it made up with the abundance of second hand clothes stores known as opportunity shops in Australia (affectionately called called Op shops). I would purchase items and take them home where I would get my mum to use her talented sewing fingers to adjust for me.

My style had always swayed between second hand and new. That was until I learnt about fast fashion and the waste produced. About that time I had moved to London and with my goal on saving for travel rather than shopping I switched my style to second hand or re purposed clothes. With London you have an HUGE variety of second hand clothing stores and places like TRAID could fulfill buying “new”.

As I write this I am wearing second hand jeans and a old top my friend did need anymore. I had never traded clothes with a friend before. It was sustainable and cost efficient way I could update my look and stick to my second hand mantra.

I remembered reading about The Clothing Exchange and saw they were hosting a fashion exchange for ahm in the city. I had to go!
Here is how it works:

1. Bring up to 6 items of clothing (anymore and it would have been even more crazy than it was!). The clothes are inspected by staff to ensure the clothes are good quality (no stains or holes). I took four dresses, one shirt and a handbag.

2. Receive a token for each of you items.

3. Use your tokens to swap for clothes.
I had not expected the large crowd of women and men, but the day worked seamlessly and was fun. There were a floor of helpers available too. Plus whatever is left over is given to charity.

clothing exchange australia

clothing exchange australia

clothing exchange australia

clothing exchange australia

clothing exchange australia

If you decide to visit a clothing exchange here are my tips:
  • Go to where the tops are. That seemed like the first to go!
  • Try to only take 3 items into the change rooms (yes, there are change rooms). This keeps the swapping field fair for everyone. 
  • Hang around after the first wave of people try on their clothes. You never know what will come back out of the change rooms
I scored a new skirt, a top, sweatshirt, and a slip. Not bad for my first clothing swap.

UPDATE: Have you been thinking about getting a new outfit for that work Christmas party? You are in luck. The next clothing swap for Melbourne will be on the 9th December. Head to Deakin Edge, Federation Square at 6:30pm to check-in your clothes. Swapping starts at 7:00pm. You can get your tickets here.


Wondering what fast fashion is? Check out this video:


Let me know if you have ever been to a clothing swap and what your tips are. And if there are stores in Australia that let you swap your old clothes i'd love to hear your experiences there?

6 comments:

  1. I am very happy to read and look at this website, greetings from me and I am waiting for your visit on my website. thank you

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  2. I believe this is a great site, you are working great on the content and quality of this site at the same time.

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  3. Would you consider moving up here to the Frozen North? Thought not lol...If I can't find an exchange in Ottawa I might get someone to start one up (I'm too lazy). What a splendid idea. Used clothing stores here are expensive and I'm still stuck with the original stuff. I used to make dolly clothes, slippers from old wool coats, pillow covers etc and other repurposed things. love this site!

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    1. You should definitely try and get one started. It is a lot of fun and something you can organise with friends & family. How do you make slippers from old wool coats? That is amazing!!

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  4. I have been to one swap among friends, but nothing official like that. It was quite fun, though I left with more than I wanted to leave with. We all brought clothes, drinks and food and it was a great get-together. Those friends do this twice a year, but I live abroad on and off, so miss out on them when I am not around.
    http://obibinibruni.org/

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    Replies
    1. Swapping clothes with friends is fun, especially when it's turned into a social event :)

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