Swapshop Plan

Back in Holland swap parties seem the in thing to do these days.While working at the Arnhem Mode Biennale last year I first became aware of how popular this concept has actually become when i saw the immense response to the little green dress event.

The concept of a swap shop is simple: you offer up your loved but no longer wanted fashion items and swap them for something else that takes your fancy.

1. Clean out your cupboard: All of us have those items in our cupboard that we once bought but never wore. We dont want to throw them away because we keep thinking that we might want to wear them one day. Just let it go, if you dont wear it now, you will probably not wear it in the future either.

2. Over 7.5 billion articles of clothing go into our dustbins every year, with most ending up in landfill. Don’t throw it – swap it! (if it is in swap-able condition that is)

3.Re- invent your style

4.Feel good factors…you get the buzz of a trip to the shops without it costing the earth

How I'm going about it:

There are a lot of factors that have to be considered to be able to organise the swapshop at a larger scale. The first thing I had to consider was the venue:

I decided to hold the swapshop in college because it takes a lot of organising. I have no idea what the response will be and want to see how it goes with people from college first before organising it in a public venue.

It's easier to do this in college because i can collect the clothing before classes start and then have the time to organise everytime while classes are going on. Also it is easier to get a hold of a venue and permission.If i had planned the event in a public space i would have to organise a system to collect clothes from people living all over the city, getting a venue and advertising would have also been more complicated.

I would love to do this event at a larger scale and see how people respond to it but at the moment i dont think i have to organise such a large event. Depending on how the event in college goes i will definitely try to organise one for the public in the future.

Volunteers:

Since I will need to keep an eye on everything and also want to talk to people and do my first hand research, I will need to get a group together to organise things and help me sort out the donations (the clothes, shoes and accessories that people bring to swap). Each helper should have a clear role at the event to help the party flow:

• Clothes arrangers
• host
• Giving out vouchers and receiving
clothes donations
• Documentation

Invites and Publicity:

I Created an invite on facebook informing people about the event and put up posters on various campusses. I have also gotten in touch with Cutlet and Srishti logblog and asked them to inform people about it. I have a week to go and so far the response has been pretty good. I just hope the enthousiasm lasts and people actually show up.

Gathering and organising donations:

Let people know they have to bring at least one item of clothing or pair of shoes or accessory to join in the swap.

• The clothes, shoes and accessories donated need to be of a good quality. Bring items you love but don’t or can’t wear anymore that you’d like to pass on to a good home.
• Ask people to bring clothes that are clean, ironed and preferably on hangers.
• Accessories and shoes can be brought in boxes and plastic bags.
• Exchange Vouchers use the vouchers to make it fair so that people can swap as many items as they bring. Each guest receives an Exchange Voucher with the number of items donated written

on it. So the more you bring the more you get to swap .

Setting up:

The clothes will be collected and organised on saturday morning. All the donations will need to be done before the start of the event so that organising and setting up goes smoothly.

Displaying the clothes:

The donated clothes need to be presented well and kept that way throughout the party.
Helpers should re-hang items throughout the event to maintain presentation.

• Clothes can be displayed on rails and hangers, or they can be draped over chairs and tables or an indoor washing line.

Order of play:

1.

Doors open for donations. Allow enough time in advance so the clothes can be arranged.

2. Explain the ‘rules’ of the exchange as people arrive.
3. An Exchange Voucher should be handed out on entry and the number of items written on the voucher. On leaving the party, the number of items of clothing should be checked out against the guest’s voucher so that no one goes away with a huge bundle!
4. Before the opening of the exchange all items must be on show.
5. Guests can view and try on clothes when they arrive after they’ve given in their donation. no clothes or accessories can be claimed before the opening of the ‘exchange’.
6. Once most people are there give them about half an hour to rifle through the goodies and try on clothes they like.
7. Officially open the ‘exchange’.
8.At this point guests can take any of the items they want.

After the event:

Any left over clothes will be given to charity.