Organising a Clothes Swap Party (swishing)
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
For those of us looking to update our wardrobes, there is a new craze sweeping around which could be the answer to all our shopping dilemmas- Swishing Parties. Swishing Parties are great as they don’t cost anything, you get to clear out unwanted items from your wardrobe and gain new pieces simply by swapping what you no longer need for something that you really want but what your fellow swisher doesn’t want. You can do swapping online as there are more websites appearing that are dedicated to swishing, or you can organise one in the comfort of your own home. All you will need is a few friends/neighbours/colleagues with an armful of clothes that they are each willing to trade! And because you’re not throwing away your clothes or spending money, swishing parties are environmentally friendly- even more perfect!
How to organise your swishing party:
. First round up as many friends as possible, telling them to completely empty their wardrobes and decide on what they no longer need. This can be clothing, shoes, accessories, jewellery, and bags.
. Next, decide on a date and venue for your party, sending out invitations/emails if necessary.
. Encourage your friends to bring along other friends so that you have a wider variety.
.You will need to think about how to organise everyone’s clothes for show, perhaps by size or by type, and use whatever space you’ve got- doors, chairs, tables etc.
Once you have organised everything, you will need to lay down a few rules so that everyone knows where they stand and that it works out fair for everyone.
. First things first- No money should ever be exchanged- all clothes are free!
. Second- Everyone must bring at least one item but can leave with as many as they like!
. Third- If two people are arguing over the same item, then toss a coin to make it fair.
. Forth- No one can claim items before the opening of the swish- it’s first come, first served!
. And finally- Whatever people take is theirs, but make sure that you are happy to give things away (although you don’t have to). To prevent people from walking out with armfuls of clothes they may never use, encourage them to try things on- perhaps create a dressing area in a room with the curtains closed and where no one can accidentally walk in!
If your party is a success, then maybe next time you could make it even bigger. Find a suitable venue such as a cafe and create posters to advertise it.
You could even try having a themed swap party. how about ski wear. Just take you old ladies ski jacket and ladies salopettes along and hope that you will come away with a lovely piece of Adidas Stella McCartney Ski Wear.
