The end of the school year is upon us and it’s time to start thinking about updating our wardrobes for the warmer weather.
A clothing swap is a great way to re-cycle and re-use clothing that still has some life left in it!
It is also an awesome way to save money and spend time with your friends.
If you haven’t hosted a clothing swap before, here are some tips on how to host an impressive clothing swap in your area. I don’t know about you, but not having to spend money on clothing sounds like an amazing win-win to me!
How to Host an Impressive Clothing Swap
Send out invites well in advance
I’d suggest sending them out at least one month prior to your event. This will give everyone enough time to find clothes to use in the swap. Be sure to let the guests know that all items should be in very good condition, washed, and ironed to make for a better swap.
You also might want to include on the invitation that all items being brought should be placed in the dryer on the high heat setting for approximately 20 minutes (or set on a sanitizing cycle). This will ensure that there are no bugs or odors in the clothing, especially if they have been stored for any length of time.
Other details you may want to consider are: setting a minimum and maximum of items each guest can bring and having each guest bring a snack (thus cutting down on your own costs).
Where to hold it
Hold your clothing swap in your home or another larger building. If you don’t want to use your home, a community center, or church may be a better idea. It is very important to have a changing room for your guests along with at least two mirrors available for your guest to try on and check out their new finds. Bathrooms are good, too (smile).
Swap more than clothes
Encourage your guests to bring in accessories to swap. By having accessories available (i.e.: shoes, purses, jewelry, belts, etc.), it helps ensure that your guests never have to go home empty handed. I’ve been to a few swaps that didn’t have my size in clothing, but was able to go home with some great new accessories, and I was thrilled about it!
Drawing numbers
Guests can be a bit crazy when it comes to getting that perfect outfit. This is where drawing numbers can really come in handy. Have your guests draw a number when they walk in the door. Once everyone arrives have the guest with the lowest number go first and pick out 1-2 items that they would like to try.
You can send them into the dressing room to try on their great finds while the next person in line takes their turn picking. This will help with the flow of the swap and minimize any drama.
Organization
Organizing the placement of clothing and accessories is very important for a successful event. You will want to keep similar items grouped together on tables and even have some clothing racks for holding dresses, skirts, and jackets. In the past I’ve borrowed clothing racks from friends and even built my own out of PVC!
Donate any leftover items to your favorite charity
There are plenty of people in need of clothing and accessories. Some places you may look to donate left over items are: local churches, battered woman’s shelter, young mother’s center, homeless shelter, or thrift stores. Every area will have different options, so I’d suggest looking into the charity that you would like to donate to well before the swap. That way it is one less thing you’ll have to worry about. And depending on how many items are left, some charities will even come to you to pick it up!
Hopefully these tips will give you a head start on planning the perfect clothing swap event for you. Take the time to really plan it out so that you will be able to enjoy yourself as well as help other ladies (and families) save some money on fashion! Community clothes swaps are also sustainable and great for the planet!
