You know that ugly sweater that you bought months ago, but just can’t stand throwing out because it was so damn expensive? Well lucky for you, clothing swapping is becoming the hip new hobby for compulsive shoppers like yourself. Long popular in Montreal, clothes swapping parties are when strangers (and friends) get together and trade pre-loved goodies. It’s a two-in-one: shopping (for FREE) and getting rid of all your junk! (Though there is a small charge, it is only to cover the venue rental costs.)
This weekend is the second edition of “Swap— Don’t Shop.” At the last one in August, we interviewed the gal who puts it all together.
“I really wanted to go to a clothing swap this summer and I just couldn’t find that many, so I decided to start my own,” says Hope Sinclair, about her clothing swap parties. Toronto Street Fashion and Mercer Union have also thrown clothing swap parties in our lovely city, but there was just no regularity until now, with Hope’s plan for bi-monthly swaps. Working for Dress Your Best in the past, she aims to help the community in a stylish manner, by donating all leftover clothing to charities (the last event’s went to Oasis Clothing Bank).
With snackies available and oodles of funky pieces to dig through, we were amazed at how well-organized and beautifully arranged everything was. From aquamarine ultra-suede trench-coats to chunky metal bangles, items were organized categorically on individual tables. It truly felt like I was stealing from a store! Make sure you get early though, cause those neatly folded piles quickly get sifted through and messy!
Date:
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time:
11:00am - 2:00pm
Location:
St. Stephens-in-the-Fields Church
Street:
103 Bellevue (at College, between Bathurst and Augusta)
Cost:$8
Hope to see you there!
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1 comment:
this is such a great idea. such a shame it took so long to cross the pond :P
a fun alternative to swapping is something my friends and i did in grade 6, actually... we took old clothing pieces and swapped them, but we also brought along pins, patches, embroidery thread and extra scraps of fabric and swapped around all the clothes, added something or cut something off them, and passed them on... so by the end we all had personalised pieces with our friends' own touches added. it was a little grunge and a little amateur back then, but i'm sure by now if we were to do it again we'd end up with much classier pieces!
p.s. hi aim it's your lame cousin :)
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