What's a Clothes Swap?

Clothing Swap: Cincinnati

Clothing Swap: Cincinnati is series of community events that will bring people together in circles to give-and-take each other’s no-longer worn clothing.  Events are free and open to the public, and all are welcome to become involved in organizing future swaps.    

What is a Clothing Swap? 

A clothing swap is a social sharing event wherein people come together to give away, and take clothes.  The swaps are held in public locations and are free and open to all.  Participants should bring any no-longer-used but still wearable clothing to give away, and can keep any clothing they find that they will use.  These events are traditionally held in someone’s home, and are popular amongst groups of women.  This concept for the Cincinnati series is to take a private ritual and make it public, allowing people to develop a new way to engage with one another, share with each other, and be involved with a physical social network. 

Why participate in a swap?

We always need new clothes, and someone else can easily wear the clothes we no longer use.  There are plenty of options for purging no longer desired clothes.  They can be re-purposed, given away to a friend of family member, donated to a charity, or even thrown away.  The most popular option is generally to donate unwanted clothes to collection and re-distribution agency like a thrift store.  Although this is an easy service to utilize, we don’t fully know what contribution we are really making, or who will be impacted.  It is one of many ways we have become a society that is almost totally isolated. 

A clothing swap is an opportunity to know who may be using your no-longer worn clothing.  There is no cost so if you find garments that you might wear, you can easily take them with you. 

When is the next clothing swap, and how do I prepare?

I will help you organize a clothes swap in your community.  Please contact me to inquire.

To prepare for a clothing swap, simply select any no-longer used but still wearable clothing, wash and dry them and bring them for exchange.  Please do not include undergarments or swimwear (unless new and unworn.)

Questions?

Contact: Corrina Mehiel   corrinamehiel@gmail.com