Run A Clothes And Style Exchange
Everyone brings what they never wear, and the group works out what actually suits each other. Free wardrobe, no shopping.
- Cost
- Free
- Time
- 90-120 min
- People
- Small Group (3-6), Large Group (7+)
- Where
- Home
- Bring
- Clothes you don't wear, a mirror
Why this matters
Fast fashion is a major source of waste and emissions, and most wardrobes contain a large proportion of items that are never worn. Swapping directly keeps clothes in use and costs nothing. There's also a genuine confidence element - plenty of people avoid clothes they'd suit because nobody's ever told them, and honest friendly feedback is hard to come by.
How to do it
Everyone brings clothes they don't wear - wrong size, never suited them, bought and regretted, or just bored of. Lay it all out, put music on, and spend an evening trying things on and swapping.
How to run it well: - Say clean and in good condition. This isn't a rubbish disposal route. - Get a full-length mirror somewhere with decent light. - Group things roughly by type rather than by whose they were - people are far more willing to try something when it isn't obviously being handed to them. - Agree what happens to leftovers before you start, and take them straight to a charity shop or a shelter that same week. Otherwise they sit in someone's hallway for a year.
The advice half: - Be honest but kind, and only when asked. Nobody wants an unsolicited critique of their existing wardrobe. - Focus on what works rather than what doesn't. "That colour is brilliant on you" is more useful than a list of failures. - Encourage people to try things they'd never pick. That's where the surprises are, and it's the entire advantage of doing this in a group. - Be conscious that clothes and bodies are a sensitive combination for a lot of people. Keep it light, never comment on size or shape, and make sure there's somewhere private to change.
Works especially well before a season change, or for anyone starting a new job.