Let's swap!

How to run a swapping party - and come to mine.

Hello Rule of Fivers, and welcome to everyone who has joined us in the last few weeks. The campaign is spreading, with new groups forming everywhere form Finland to Texas. It really is lovely to have you on board.

And welcome to Spring, traditionally the time for ‘wardrobe switch overs’ and ‘style upgrades’. The weather’s changing, and the sap is rising, so time for a strategy. How about swapping?

Spring in your step? Walk this way, and bring your best gear with you. Photo: Guillermo Roemaet for Xarraca Journal

There’s no doubt this is the moment for a little freshness in the wardrobe, but there are other places to get it than the shops. Remember as a kid you would always borrow clothes from your friends? Or maybe your sister, or your Mum? Time to get back to that.

Swapping parties can be great fun to organise, to take part in and they can also leave you feeling fashion richer. The key is - give generously. What’s that one thing in your wardrobe you really treasure that you just don’t wear anymore? Or perhaps never wore at all? Choose something you would be proud to give to your best friend.

I’m holding my first swapping party on Wednesday April 26th, together with the community over at NOON. If you would like to come, then sign up below.

The first Rule of Five swapping party will be at the Rosewood Hotel, Holborn in central London and you’re invited! Places are limited, so please register on this Eventbrite link and type in the promo code Ruleoffive for a free ticket. It’s happening 6.30-8.30pm, the guest list is extra, and the swaps will be amazing. If you manage to get a spot, we will email you with the full details.

Personally, I’m donating a gorgeous Philip Lim jacket I bought back in the day. It’s pale grey with a black satin tuxedo collar, nips in at the waist, has a structured shoulder and a double breasted fastener. Why on earth don’t I wear it?! No idea, but every time I pull if off the hangar and throw it on, it never seems quite right on me. I think it’s my complexion. Anyway this, plus a pair of Prada sunglasses and a lovely leather luggage label I was once gifted are what I’m taking to my first swapping party.

Swap you? Im bringing along this beautiful Philip Lim tuxedo. I never wear it, only because the colour doesn’t suit me. Will it suit you?

How to organise a swapping party

1. Pick a venue. Your own home with friends might be the best place to start, but why not think bigger and charge an entry price to cover the hire cost?

2. You’ll need tables, racks and hangars to display the clothes, and don’t forget mirrors and screens for guests to try on outfits.

3. Drinks and music! You decide the vibe.

4. Set your acceptance policies. For me it’s “something you would be excited to gift a friend”.

5. Set your limits. Number of items in = number of items out. In other words, bring two items, take two home with you. Bring ten, take home ten. You might also consider establishing a currency for swapping, assigning tickets for valuable items like designer pieces, or, say, a leather jacket.

6. Presentation is everything. Make sure items are displayed neatly and quickly as soon as guests arrive. Swaps can get messy fast, so it helps to have a point person manning the wardrobe.

7. Donate extra clothes: have a strategy for clothes that are left at the end of the event. You could donate to a local charity or textile recycler. Or swappers could take unwanted donations home.

8. Add a take home message. Spread the word about why this is a better way to swap. A little going home present could include a postcard with the following messaging:

   For every t-shirt we swap we save the planet 2,700 litres of water!

   Every garment worn twice as long, reduces its carbon footprint by 44%!

On Wednesday 26th I will be there to talk about the Rule of Five with Eleanor Mills, Noon founder, along with some of the incredible women from her community too. It will be a lot of fun, and most wonderful of all will be a chance for us to meet.

If you are interested in learning more about how the fashion industry is gearing up for a more sustainable future, I write a weekly bulletin It’s Not Sustainable, reporting on current fashion industry innovations. It’s free to subscribe.

Good luck with your swapping party - let me know how you get on. And if you can make it, see you at mine, (but hurry, places are limited).

Tiff