For the past few years, I’ve been involved with organizing a women’s clothing swap twice a year at It’s All Yoga, the yoga studio where I teach, and recently I’ve been asked to explain how and why we do it.
What Is A Clothing Swap?
It’s a get together with friends, clients, students with the purpose of trading gently used items (clothes, shoes and accessories) with others.
Wardrobes are remade and friendships begin with chatting over tables while in search of that perfect new-to-you outfit. I have connected with friends and students while building a new seasonable wardrobe.
Why Hold A Clothing Swap:
1. It’s fun.
2. It’s an environmentally and budget friendly way to build a new wardrobe for yourself while helping someone else build theirs.
3. The clothes and shoes that mock you from the closet because they were expensive, but just not quite right, usually can find a new home with someone you know, thus making everyone happy.
4. We raise a bunch of funds for a local charity and donate all the unclaimed items for them to sell in their shop.
5. We get to finally talk to the lovely people on the mats next to ours! Teachers and students interacting with each other in a super friendly environment is a great way to help everyone feel like they belong to the IAY community.
6. Friends bring friends and we usually leave SwapAsana with new to us clothes and connections with people we wouldn’t have otherwise made.
How To Hold A Clothing Swap:
My friend Amy hosted a swap party at her house this summer with a couple of girlfriends and wrote a post about it. I totally scored in the sweater and dress department and got to taste Joy The Baker’s famous Simple Vegan Chocolate Cake. All in all, a great night!
In my research I also found this post and this comprehensive guide.
At It’s All Yoga’s SwapAsana, we put half of the goods on tables at the beginning and take a break midway. We use the free-for-all method and most people take what looks best and leave the rest. There is one group of swappers who try things on together and decide who brings the item home based on who it most flatters. Team work at its finest!
If you are interested in hosting a swap party, I definitely recommend going to someone else’s party first. I did and fell in love! Thanks, Stitch Swap!
It’s All Yoga’s bi-annual SwapAsana is this Sunday, October 14th at the studio in Midtown Sacramento. Feel free to come by!
Have you ever hosted/attended a swap? What was your experience?
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