Posh Swaps Blog

A very happy New Year from Posh-swaps.com. We hope that you had a great 2009 and also look forward to lots if swapping in 2010. Here at Posh-swaps.com, we  have made a few changes to the way that you list items to make it even easier for you. You can now upload any size photograph and it will be resized to the required dimensions. Other plans for 2010 include more promotion of the site to increase out user base and the choice of clothes for swappers. We hope to promote eco fashion and sustainable style even more, keeping you up to date with the ultimate in guilt free style. We also hope to organise lots more fun clothes swap parties. Finally, we have no plans to introduce any fees throughout 2010 and beyond. Posh-swaps.com is still completely free to register, list, swap, buy and sell second hand clothes. Please let us know if you have any other ideas or feedback about the site.

The new year is a great time to swap clothes. Why not have a clear out of your wardrobe and swap anything that you no longer wear. If you have not worn something for over a year, then you will probably not wear it again.

If you have received clothes from well meaning friends and family that you just know you won’t wear, instead of leaving it hanging in your cupboard, why not swap it for something you will wear.

If your new years resolution is to lose weight, treat yourself to some new clothes in your new size by swapping your old clothes. A great new wardrobe to suit your figure for free.

Happy New Year and Happy Swapping!

9th January is the  first ever International Day of Swishing as announced by Futerra Communications, a UK sustainability communications agency on swishing.org. ‘Swishing’ is the term coined by Futerra Communications to describe clothes swap parties a phenomena that has become hugely popular all over the world. The dictionary definition of swishing is ‘to rustle as silk’ but the futerra definition is ‘to rustle clothes from friends’.

2010 looks likely to be a year where swishing will increase in popularity. It is a greay way to refresh your wardrobe without racking up debt on your credit card. It is also a great sustainable alternative to shopping, reducing the textile waste in landfill and the environmental impact of clothing manufacture.

To celebrate they will be throwing an eco-fabulous ‘Red Carpet Swish’ at London’s Swanky Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street, London. At Posh Swaps, we will be celebrating the International Day of Swishing by hosting our own online swap party or swish. There is no exclusive guest list everyone is welcome to list and swap as many clothes as they like for free. We will also be inviting our favourite Fashion Bloggers to come along and join in the swap.

Have you ever wished that you could live a  more green life but just can’t seem to find the time to do so? Finding the most eco friendly options and products can take time and that is something that most of us seem to be very short on. That is why I am really pleased that I came across www.wekangogreen.co.uk, a website that seems to give almost everything that you need to make your life a lot greener and be more eco friendly.

From organic gardening tips to a database of places to recycle and find eco friendly goods to making less waste when you cook, the website is jam packed with really useful information accompanied by charming pictures.The shop stocks almost anything that you could possibly need from cleaning and laundry products to hair care and organic makeup to batteries and even water saving devices. If you though going green would be difficult, this website will make it a whole lot easier.

They even run a stamp reward scheme so going green doesn’t have to be expensive.

The ARISE Promise of Africa collective show will take place at New York Fashion Week on Friday September 11th. This is the second runway show to be presented as part of the ARISE Magazine founder Nduka Obaigbena’s vision of bringing a changing roster of rising and influential designers from across the African continent to New York each season. This season’s designers are David Tlale (South Africa), Eric Raisina (Madagascar), Tiffany Amber (Nigeria), and Jewel by Lisa (Nigeria). David Tlale and Tiffany Amber were co-winners of the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards in Johannesburg this past June, giving them the opportunity to show in New York.

The second runway show in what will be a biannual tradition for New York Fashion Week, the ARISE Collective will feature designers from South Africa, Nigeria, and Madagascar on fashion’s most influential stage, presented by ARISE Magazine. All four designers in the ARISE Collective are celebrated in their native countries and are honored to be seen as some of Africa’s many promises in the continent’s bright future.

David Tlalewas one of two designers awarded Designer of the Year at the ARISE Africa Fashion Awards in Johannesburg this past June, giving him the opportunity to present in New York for the first time.“I’m very excited about this once in a lifetime opportunity,” Tlale said. “I never thought I’d show at New York Fashion Week in the Bryant Park tents this early in my career. It’s the right time to show the world what Africa has to offer

Tiffany Amber, by Nigerian designer Folake Folarin-Coker, first showed in New York as part of the inaugural ARISE Collective runway show in February 2009 “The reviews and the comments made by the industry professionals, audience members and customers was overwhelming,” Folarin-Coker said. “It was a good wake up call, there is a market out there that wants to see Africa’s vision, hear our stories and follow our lines. Also showing in New York as part of the ARISE Collective for the first time are Madagascar-born textile wizard Eric Raisina, who pioneered “silk fur” through his work with artisans throughout Cambodia, Madagascar, and the ateliers of Paris, and Jewel by Lisa the Nigerian label of Lisa Folawiyo, which features heavily embellished and handcrafted Ankara fabric.

The show will be run by renowned show producer, who has worked with international celebrities such as Elton John, Tyra Banks, and John Legend for more than two decades.Continuing the tradition of exposure for culturally-diverse designers is vital to ARISE Magazine founder and THISDAY GROUP Chairman Nduka Obaigbena

ARISE Magazine

ARISE, launched in February 2009, is the world’s first magazine on global African style, culture, business and politics. Produced in London, ARISE is published by THISDAY Media Group, Leaders & Company Ltd, one of Africa’s leading daily news outlets. THISDAY events, including the THISDAY Awards and THISDAY Music and Fashion Festivals, have brought music and fashion icons as well as world and business leaders to Lagos, Abuja, London and Washington, DC, including Bill Clinton, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher, and many more. ARISE is published by THISDAY Media Group, Leaders & Company Ltd. and can be found on the web at www.ariselive.com.

picture from www.ericraisina.com

The Wottle, a collaboration between designer Orla Kiely and water filter company Brita is quite simply a reusable water bottle. Nothing revolutionary about but a great idea and looks pretty good two. The constant use and subsequent disposal of plastic water bottles is very damaging to the environment. Not only is there the problem of landfill to consider but also the use of valuable and non renewable resources to keep manufacturer plastic bottles for just one use. The Wottle eliminates both of these problems and can just be reused each day by refilling with tap water or water from a filter jug.

The Wottle is manufactured from recycled plastic further adding to it eco friendly credentials. It is also a lot cheaper option than spending money on bottles of water. I think the Orla Kieley leaf design also makes this  a much more stylish option than a normal bottle of water.

This week we have some great green and eco fashionable links with some great natural, healthy and sustainable style ideas.

The Fashionable Housewife is excited about Count Me Healthy Jewelry. A great way to track your health goals so you can get healthy faster!

My Beauty Bunny explains what it means for beauty products to be natural and organic.

Posh Swaps shows how you can have a stylish Eco wedding, a great way to start your married life!

Eco bags review by Quinta Trends

Organic and Eco friendly clothing is now right on trend but how many people consider the environmental credentials of another important aspect of their style, their hair? As with clothing and fashion, many people would like to be more environmentally friendly and opt for the more healthy and natural option but they are not prepared to compromise on style.

Louise Galvin, the well known hair colourist has just launched her own range of eco friendly and natural hair and body products. The products are also highly effective giving hair radiant and healthy shiny hair. The range hydrates and protect coloured hair from fading. They are made from completely natural ingredients and free from additives like sulphates, propylene glycol, petrochemicals, silicones, which result in build-up, artificial perfumes, parabens, phthalates and no synthetic preservatives.

The range is also carbon neutral, so any carbon dioxide produced by the manufacture has been offset. Louise previously created Louise Galvin Sacred Locks a luxury carbon neutral range that was only available to hair salons and high end boutiques. Now we can all experience some of this luxury. We love the fragrance free range for mothers to be. It is also gentle and safe for using on babies and helps you have beautiful hair when pregnant as many find their hair needs that little bit of help with shine and volume.

If you haven’t yet joined in with the frugal, environmentally friendly and highly addictive (in a good way) trend for clothes swapping. What is to stop you? With parties for those who like social shopping and clothes swap websites for those who prefer to browse online, there is something for everyone. Here are 10 great reason to get swapping:

1. You can ensure that you have a balanced wardrobe with the right amount of different types of clothes to suit your lifestyle.

2. You can ensure that you have a wardrobe full of clothes that you really love.

3. You never need to get bored with your clothes, you can swap them as often as you like.

4. You can try out new looks that you never would have tried before.

5. You can help to reduce the amount of clothes and textiles going into landfill each year by recycling or swapping your clothes.

6. You can reduce environmental impact associated with the manufacture of new clothes by swapping instead of buying new clothes.

7. What better excuse for a spot of socialising than a clothes swap or swishing party.

8. You can save yourself lots if money by swapping instead of buying new.

9. You can feel happy that the expensive suit you bought last year for a wedding will get loved by someone as much as you loved it.

10.  You can avoid getting a cluttered and over crowded wardrobe by always removing an item before replacing with something new.

Neon Floral Pattern Mini Skirt - Want to Swap?

If you haven’t had a chance to make your first clothes swap on posh-swaps.com, why not give it a try? I guarentee that you will be addicted. The thrill of recieving your first swap is just as exciting as that feeling that you get from going on a shopping spree. Actually it is a lot better as you don’t have a great big credit card bill to pay off at the end of it. It is also a great way to refresh your wardrobe so that it does not get too over crowded.

It is quick and easy to list your items on posh-swaps.com. All you need to do is set up an account (if you don’t already have one), take a photo or three of your item. Then log into your account, go to the add a new item, select ’swap it’ and complete as many details as you can before submitting. Don’t forget that the more information that you give about the item that you are hoping to recieve in return, the more chance you have of getting what you really want. If you are not really sure what you want, give a few clues like size,  casual clothes etc and state that you are happy to consider any proposals.

If you have a blog or participate in any social networks like Twitter or Facebook, you can also link to your item page to help promote it.

Whilst most people understand the importance of recycling and how it helps the environment, some people need just a little bit more of an incentive than helping the environment to get them recycling. There are so many ways that you can recycle now but did you know that you can actually make money by recycling?

Here are our top ways of making money by recycling:

1. Mobile phones - www.mobilephonerecycling.co.uk allows you to compare prices and get the most for your phone. Mobile phones should not be thrown away in your bin as the batteries contain hazardous substances.  

2. Computers and laptops - find out how much money you can get for your old computer on www.wastecare.co.uk

3. Clothes  - you can sell your old clothes on www.posh-swaps.com

4. Refashion clothes - you can refashion second hand clothes into something new and sell it for a higher value on www.posh-swaps.com

5. Make Jewellery - you can turn waste into beautiful and unusual jewellery to sell at craft fairs or on posh-swaps.com. Old watches and jewellery are a great place to start but there are so many other things you could use. Think creatively.

6. Turn your kitchen waste into compost, bag it up and sell it to your neighbours. Find out how on http://www.composting101.com/

7. Sell just about anything that you don’t want or need any more at a car boot sale, through newspaper ads or online

You just need to think a bit creatively. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure so before you throw something away, think about whether it might be of value to someone else.