Swap clothing with your friends? That may sound a little odd, but we’re here to change your mind on why you should start swapping clothes with your friends ASAP!
Have you ever looked at your closet and thought “I have absolutely nothing to wear”? You could have a full closet, but still feel that you have worn the exact same things time and time again. You’re not alone, trust me, we’ve all been there! Chances are, your friends are even in the exact same boat. Well, ladies, it’s time to freshen up that wardrobe with the social event of the year!
Clothing swaps are absolutely one of the best ways of finding new clothes! When you swap clothing, it helps you find new items to wear, and it also keeps your closet cycling so you never get tired of what you wear!
Here are some main reasons why you should swap clothing and how to host your first swap immediately.
Goodbye Messy Closet
Instead of putting the clothes in a pile and saying you’ll donate it later, the event itself gives you more motivation to clean your closet. Instead of the daunting task of looking at that pile and rethinking what you want to get rid of, the thought of you getting to swap clothes and see a friend put it on will instantly give you more motivation.
Plus, just like trying on clothes with friends at the mall, you can give them helpful hints on how to style certain articles of clothing.
It Will Save You Money
Shopping for new clothes can get expensive and spending hours at the mall with kids is next to impossible. Although there are always alternatives to going to the mall or online shopping, sometimes we just don’t have the time to walk up and down every aisle and try to find one or two items you like. When swapping clothes, everyone has already made their purchases, so there’s no need to break out the wallet.
Read more: The Simple Closet Audit
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
In addition to saving you time and money, swapping clothes is one of the most eco-friendly ways of finding clothes. According to Business Insider, “the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second”. Instead of your fashion items immediately going to the dump, you can extend its shelf life by giving it to a friend. Even if that friend ends up donating it a few weeks later, you have still made a significant impact on how it affects our environment.
So how do you go about hosting a clothing swap? The process is so simple – go through your closet and grab everything you don’t want (if it doesn’t spark joy – toss it out Marie Kondo style). Invite friends over, and swap clothes and whatever is left, you donate! It’s truly a win/win/win.
The process sounds simple, but it can get a bit complicated when you’re the host. Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure that your clothing swap runs smoothly!
Set Ground Rules
When you are making your invite, include the rules so that everyone can see them upfront. If you don’t let them know ahead of time, they could have a completely different idea of what they’re walking into.
A few simple rules:
- If you want to take clothes home, make sure that you bring your own clothes to swap. No one wants to feel like they’re the only ones giving away their belongings.
- No one wants to look at clothes that aren’t in good quality. If a shirt has tears or is super faded, make sure to let your guests know not to bring it.
- Touching on that, let people know exactly what they should bring! Are you just doing your own closet? Or does this include baby clothes as well? You should also take note if anyone is pregnant because maternity clothes are often a huge need!
Plan Your Location
Depending on how many people you invite, you really want to think about the location. For a more intimate swap, a living room or den could totally provide enough space. But if you’re planning on inviting a ton of people to swap clothes, you may want to reach out to your local community center or church to see if you could use their space. They may even have families in need that you could directly donate to.
Keep It Organized!
Your guests will likely bring their clothes in garbage bags or laundry baskets. It can be so exhausting having to sort through all of those piles. Hang up some of the nicer items on clothing racks to make it easier to sort. If you’re planning on doing jewelry, you can also bring in a folding table or desk to lay them out nicely.
Read more: Clothing Organizer for the Win
Snack It Up!
This is where the social event part comes in. Think of this clothing swap like going to the mall with some of your best friends. Providing drinks and snacks will keep everyone’s spirits up. If you’re having a brunch swap, you could spice it up and have mimosas and muffins! You can also dedicate your guests to bring a food item along with their clothes. Regardless of the time of day you’re having it, you can have fun with the way you display your snacks.
Research Where To Donate The Excess
There are tons of thrift stores where you could drop off your excess clothes. Goodwill is a great option, but when donating to thrift stores you don’t know exactly where your clothes are going. Luckily, there are so many donation places to choose from. If you have a few professional outfits that no one takes, consider donating them to Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits. ACDN takes donated clothes and gives them to women and men who are joining or re-entering the workforce. If they don’t have a member in your area, reach out to your local women’s shelter or look around the area for donation bins!
Read more: Healthy Snacks by goodness knows
Don’t Stop At One Swap
Why would you only swap clothing once? This should definitely not be a one time only event! If hosted with the seasons, the swaps become more about the upcoming weather. This way you’re not having to look through a ton of jackets during a July swap. Bonus – it’ll be an event that your guests look forward to every season!
The benefits of having a clothing swap are definitely something you will want to share with friends! So ladies, now that you have this information, it’s time to start to swap clothing and planning your first event!
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out this article on Recycling Clothes to Contribute to Green Living!
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Photo Credits: Lauren Benson Photography
Sources: Business Insider | ACDN | Domestic Shelters
Thanks for the great tips and inspiration! Looks like it’s time for me to try out a clothes swap of my own.