greenmystyle.com writer Stacey holds her own clothes swap

As any eco stylista in the midst of an economic down-turn knows, there is nothing better than a good clothes swap to get a brand new outfit for next to nothing. One of greenmystyle.com’s writers Stacey Malvern has gone one step better, and held her very own swishing event. See the pictures here.

Stacey writes: As a contributor for greenmystyle.com I have been to many a swishing event, but this was the first one I had decided to gallantly organise myself. My first experience of clothes swapping, or swishing as it is affectionately named, was at the V&A museum during their Sustainable Fashion event last November. Since then whenever I had heard the word swishing I was there! So with my once-loved items under one arm I was ready to find something new and exciting, and all for free.

Amongst crowds of eager swishers, it was a battle of the fittest to grab the leather jacket, those patent heels and that green tea dress before someone else did. Knowing how riotous and unruly these events could be, I was more than apprehensive when the time can to open the doors, and let the crowds devour my single rail of collected items.

When I first pitched the idea to a friend we thought it would be nothing but a great success. At a time loomed with talk of recession and credit crunch, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a bit of guilt-free shopping? Clothes swapping is truly taking the fashion scene by storm and it is an eco-fabulous way of recycling those old items hiding in the darkest corners of your wardrobe.

After a month of organising I was really excited to see how my swishing day would turn out. Amongst my single rail of items was a fabulous Topshop wrap dress, a vintage grey studded leather jacket, numerous lumberjack shirts and a strapless Fifties style print dress that I had my eye on, not to mention an array of shoes, belts and jewellery I had gathered throughout our week of collection.

With the thrill of bargain-hunting inside them, a small crowd had gathered and I was starting to feel quite unprepared with the small amount of clothes I had to swap. Thankfully, after the doors opened, people arrived clutching even more items to swap and I could then add them to my rail.

It seemed to all be over in moments though, and after just 30 minutes the rail has been totally pillaged. All that remained were are a few T-shirts that looked like rejects from the Eighties and a couple of pairs of jeans. Throughout the frenzy, what had I managed to grab? That strapless dress and a pair of turquoise leg warmers!

Among the people who had come to swap till they dropped was Ruth, 21. She said, ‘I got a pair of jeans, a skirt and two great party tops. This is the first swapping event that I have been to and I am really pleased with what I picked up. It is such a good idea!’
A fellow swisher Lucy, 22 said, ‘I’m really pleased with what I managed to find on the rail! I found these shoes, a belt and a gorgeous Forties dress which I’m going to customize.’ Thrifty.

From what I could see and hear people who came along were really happy with what they found hiding amongst the rail and I was just so thrilled to get people involved in the great clothes swapping ethos. It is rewarding to put on your own event and I really recommend it. Even though I enjoy a good swishing event just as much as the next person, there is nothing really like the buzz of sharing it with others who have never experienced it before.

Click the numbered pages to see more pictures of Stacey’s swapping event and see her modelling that Fifties style dress…

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