Johanna Axelsson organized a clothing swap day in the village of Lunger, just outside Arboga in Sweden – and it was a success. Now, she hopes to inspire more people to do the same.
“It was very easy to arrange and much less work than I had expected!” says Johanna.
It all started when a friend reached out to Johanna and asked if she was interested in helping to organize a clothing swap event.
“From the moment we got the idea, it only took three weeks until the event was held,” Johanna says.
A Specific Target Group Makes It Easier
They created an event on Facebook, found a venue they could rent cheap, and as word spread, more volunteers signed up to help.
“We chose to focus on women’s clothing. Having a specific target group can be helpful, as both sellers and buyers know what to expect,” says Johanna.
“We Wanted to Make It as Easy as Possible to Participate”
Sellers were responsible for labeling their clothes with a specific number they received upon registration. One hour before the event opened, they dropped off their clothes and sorted them by size.
The organizers then handled the rest of the administration, such as managing sales, distributing earnings, and donating unsold clothes to resale.
“We wanted to make it as easy as possible to participate. Not having to stand by your table all day lowers the threshold for joining. The only thing you need to do is clean out your closet,” Johanna explains.
A Fully Booked Event
The event quickly became fully booked, with a total of 25 participants submitting a wide variety of clothing, from items sold for as little as 10 kronor to more expensive pieces.
“We received only positive feedback. Everyone sold something. Immediately afterward, several people talked about wanting us to do it again,” says Johanna.
For anyone considering organizing a similar event, Johanna emphasizes how easy it is.
“A tip for those who want to get started: it doesn’t have to be a big deal! It was a relatively small effort from us as organizers.”
Second-Hand – A Lower Environmental Impact Option
Organizing clothing swap events is a great way to ensure that clothes sitting in closets get used.
According to The British Fashion Council, there are already enough clothes on earth to dress the next six generations. Using garments that already exist instead of newly produced is a way to be more mindful of the planet’s resources.
Swapping with others or buying second-hand is an easy way to refresh your wardrobe without contributing to a large carbon footprint.