Posh Swaps Blog

Louise Redknapp to host ‘eve Fashion Swap’ this September.

Fashionable women from all over Manchester are being invited to pick some stylish items from their wardrobe that they can bring along to a spectacular ‘fashion swap’ event taking place at Dukes 92 in Castlefield on Wednesday15th September.  Louise Redknapp will be hosting the event.   

The ‘eve Fashion Swap’, created by new drinks brand eve, has been inspired by the latest ‘swishing’ trend – the fashionistas way of updating their wardrobe for free. Ladies simply choose an item of unwanted good quality clothing, bring it along to the event and exchange it for someone else’s.  

Unlike many fashion swap events, tickets are free. Anyone who’d like to come along simply needs to apply for SMS tickets by texting ‘eve Manchester’ to 82500. In return, a unique code will be sent to their phone which can be shown at the entrance to allow them access to the swap.

The doors open at 6pm, and as the last few clothes are sorted ladies can sample the new eve lychee and eve passionfruit drinks and enjoy bespoke eve cupcakes. Then once Louise Redknapp declares the swap officially open, the rail rummaging can begin. As the swap progresses organisers will be secretly placing surprise items on the rails, so there will be loads of bargains on offer for the most thorough of guests!

In between trying on clothes, the swapsters can get style advice from a celebrity stylist, and could enjoy one of the limited mini-manicures. There will also be an eve goodie bag for each attendee to take away at the end of the night. 

Louise Redknapp, who is the official face of eve, says:

 “It’s no secret that I absolutely adore fashion and I love shopping with friends. The eve Fashion Swap embodies this perfectly, so it’s the perfect night out for women who are serious about style. I’m sure the ladies of Manchester will share my passion for fashion and love my latest find, eve. I can’t wait to see what they bring along, I’ll definitely be having a look through the rails myself.”

For further information visit http://refreshingeve.com/fashion-swap

Posh Swaps has just had its first birthday and in celebration, we are holding a great prize draw during the month of May. Anyone who lists clothes to swap on Posh-swaps.com during May 2010 will be automatically entered into the draw. For each item listed you will get one entry into the draw so the more items that you list, the more chance you will have of winning. The winners will be drawn at the beginning of June and notified by email, all prizes should be claimed within 2 weeks or there will be a redraw to determine a new winner. So here is what you can win:

First Prize - £100 of shoe vouchers for Spartoo.co.uk (this prize is only available to those resident in the UK) - take your pick of some of the latest styles of shoes and handbags including some great designer brands.

Second Prize - a new Initial wallet by Lollipops Paris - a large and well organised purse with large coin pocket and sections for notes and cards, this is the perfect balance of style and practicality.

Third Prizes - three lucky winners can take their pick of one item from our own Posh Swaps swapping account. With a selection of second hand accessories and clothes in a variety of sizes (and a few vintage pieces).

Runners Up - ten runners up will each recieve one of our stylish reusuable Posh Swaps cotton bags.

ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

A new online boutique company called Sequel London has arrived on our scenes- one of the latest boutiques to launch that are eco-friendly. Sequel London offers a range of leather handbags, which have been made from recycled leather jackets, discarded silk ties and curtains that are no longer wanted. The company has been created by cousins Claire Baigent and Laura Queening, both of whom want to reduce waste and to encourage sustainability in fashion by choosing unwanted clothes and accessories from Oxfam’s Wastesaver Warehouses, and using the materials to create their stunning new range.

The collection features bags made from leather including leather buttons, a removable silk tie decoration to add colour and style to the bags, and recycled curtains which are cut so to provide the lining of the bag. The ties on each bag will vary by design and will depend on the amount donated to Oxfam, so no two pieces will be the same. All of the Sequel London products are made in London itself, and the company is aiming to use recycled materials wherever possible- from the leather and the curtains, to the packaging and the stationary which will be made from recycled paper. All of the products have been designed by co-owner Laura Queening, who graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2007. “We decided to launch Sequel London as a way of encouraging sustainability in fashion by using those cast-offs that most of us have in the backs of our wardrobes, to produce classic, beautiful pieces that can be worn with pride time and again,” comments Laura. “We only choose the best quality material, even if the clothing itself has passed its fashion sell-by date.” Claire Baigent graduated from Newcastle University in 2006, and holds a CIPR Advanced Certificate in Public Relations.

The Spring/Summer collection, which is only available to buy online at sequellondon.co.uk, consists of six designs which are priced from £39 to £79, and offer beautiful and durable designs to last a life-time at high street prices.

Pictures and Quotes from www.sequellondon.co.uk

The two latest trends around in the fashion world at the moment is Clothes Swapping- clothes swapping parties and clothes swapping websites. The idea of clothes swapping is for us ladies to be able to update our wardrobes, on a budget and by doing so, helping the environment as you are recycling rather than throwing away clothes and buying new ones. But which one is the better one to do?

With a clothes swap party, you can make it in to such a fun time, allowing you to socialise with people. You can invite your best friends, your work colleagues, and even your neighbours and ask them to bring a friend with an armful of clothes, so that you have even more choice and the chance to make new friends as well. You will have the opportunity to see clothes up close, and if there is a designated changing area, then you also get the chance to try items on. However, no matter how many people do come to your house/party, the choice will be almost nothing compared to what you will find on a website. Your friends/neighbours/colleagues may also have different sizes to you, so what you do like may not fit you. The items are there for you to take home right away, but there could be arguments over certain popular items.

On a clothes swap website, you will have an endless choice of items from all over the world, so that this way you have more control over which items you receive in the swap. It may take a while to negotiate the swap as you may have to wait for the other-end person to come online, and if you are swapping from abroad, you may get caught up in each others’ time differences. Normally with clothes swapping, not a penny gets exchanged whereas online you may have to pay postage and packaging. However, the price of a parcel may just be worth it for that gorgeous dress that’s only available in America!

Some more very green and very stylish posts from our Green Chic friends this week - enjoy!

Factio Magazine goes green this spring with eco chic footwear! Naya shoes are made with style and comfort in mind while still being gentle on the environment.
Fashion Tribes Check out Dita Von Teese in eco-chic, plastic fantastic shoes by Jean Paul Gaultier for Melissa -
Guiltless & Glamorous reviews a hot new cruelty-free skincare line made in Vancouver!
My Beauty Bunny tells us about the new USPS shelter animal stamps that help save animals’ lives!
Posh Swaps has some great tips on organising a clothes swap party or swishing
Runway To Retail checks out the spring/summer 2010 collection of AGGA B.that is sure to intrigue you.

picture from Runway to Retail

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.

There has been a lot of talk lately about sustainable clothes and eco fashion. Every day a new brand emerges that is in some better for the environment than conventional clothing and usually more ethically produced. But with fast fashion and the culture of buying cheaply (and often unethically) made high fashion clothing still highly popular and ‘environmental green washing’ becoming the new in phrase, what really can be done to make clothing more sustainable?

At Posh Swaps we believe that there is no right or wrong way to become more sustainable, anything that we can do, no matter how small is a positive step in the right direction. But there are some things that we can do that are likely to have a more positive effect than others.

1. Buy less clothes - it is quite simple really, the less clothes that we buy, the less environmental damage is caused in their manufacture and the less waste we make. Clothes swapping is a great alternative to buying clothes. It allows you to update your wardrobe without having an impact (or a very minimal impact on the environment)

2. Buy second hand clothes- this is the most eco friendly way to buy clothes. There is no additional carbon footprint (except for transport) associated with buying new clothes. But we understand that you cannot always find exactly what you want second hand and will sometimes need to buy new.

3. Buy quality clothes that will last, where possible in Eco friendly fabrics- fabrics made from recycled materials, probably have the smallest footprint as they do not have to be made from scratch. There is also the benefit of having saved materials that may have otherwise ended up in landfill. Other eco friendly fabrics including organic bamboo, cotton and hemp are all better than their conventional alternatives but still have a carbon footprint associated with their growth and manufacture and contribute to the problem of waste so should always be bought to last.

Finally, in order to ensure that your clothing is really sustainable, you should consider its whole life  cycle:

• Buy clothes to last
• Wash and dry (or clean) in as eco friendly manner as possible
• When you no longer need them recycle by selling or donating to charity.

Posh-swaps.com was at the Southbank Centre in London on Wednesday for the Sustainable Clothing Conference and update of the Sustainable Clothing Roadmap. The conference included entrance to Estethica, London Fashion Week’s sustainable trade show, a reception and address by Environment Minister Dan Norris.The conference brought together over 200 clothing industry representatives to discuss the ethical and environmental impacts of clothing.

One year on from the first sustainable action plan in which Posh Swaps pledged to promote recycling and reuse of clothes by encouraging clothes swapping and buying and selling of second hand clothes as well as other eco fashion and sustainable clothing. A further 40 companies and organisations have signed up to the action plan including British Retail Consortium, Ethical Fashion Forum, Forum for the Future, Levis Strauss, MADE-BY, Cotton Made in Africa, RSPCA, Society of Dyers and Colourists.

Since its creation the SCAP has brought together over 40 organisations, from high street retailers, to designers and textile manufacturers to battle the environmental and ethical impacts of ‘throw away’ fashion.  Some of the biggest names in fashion are working to take actions which will make a significant difference to the environmental footprint and social inequalities which blight some of the consumer fashion supply chain.

Many of the initiatives from the original action plan are now well underway including Tesco’s new sustainable clothing range in collaboration with From Somewhere which will launch this Spring and the Oxfam ‘Clothes Exchange’ partnership with M&S.

There was also the announcement of a £3.5 million fund to be made available over 3 years by the Responsible and Accountable Garment Sector (RAGS) fund for bids from organisations who want to make the clothing business more ethical and contribute more strongly to development in poor countries.

If you are looking for a clothes swap party or swish for February, then look no further, here are some of the main events taking place this month.

Dolly Mixtures

11 Feb 2010 17:00

Venue: Electric Circus, 36-39 Market Street, Edinburgh.

DOLLY MIXTURES (weekly from 14th January, except 28th)
doors 5pm, £3 in advance, £6 on the door for the whole evening – call 0131 226 4224 for group bookings
Beat those January blues with high tea, cocktails, swishing/clothes swapping, tribute acts and party tunes till the wee hours.
Bring the girls along for some high tea nibbles, teapot cocktails or a nice bottle of wine and have a rummage through our stalls of vintage clothes, hand made jewellery and cute crafts. Bring along a quality unwanted item from your wardrobe and when the bell rings swish away!
Then settle in for a top night of entertainment! A sensational sing-along with a top tribute act every week, then kick off your shoes and have a dance with our party tunes dolly mixture djs till it’s time for bed. This is set to be the finest ladies night in town!
Live sets – 14/01 – Madonna, 21/01 – Robbie Williams, 4/02 – Abba, 11/02 – Kylie
Drinks from £1.50

University of the Arts London Student SwapShop

11 Feb 2010 18:00

Venue: UAL HUB, London

Fashion SwapShop
Thursday 11th February
HUB Davies Street
6pm-9pm

MA Fashion and the Environment students in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion host UAL SwapShop!

Presentation on the importance of reuse and swapping from TRAID,
Clothing customising workshops,
and for one night only in London - Mercatino Michela Italian Vintage Stall

If that second installment of student loan has gone already come and update your wardrobe the SwapShop way!

Save money, save the planet

Search your wardrobe for garments you never wear, bring them along, and swap them for ones you will wear and love! Come along any time with your unwanted clothing.

See you there!

Harpenden Frock Exchange

12 Feb 2010 19:00

Venue: St Nicholas Hall, Church Green, Harpenden

1st Harpenden Frock Exchange. Browsing starts 7.30pm, swishing starts 8.15pm prompt. Come along and join the fun!
£5 on door, includes glass of wine. In support of Cancer Research and Needy Young Persons Project.

Brighton Swish

13 Feb 2010 15:00

Venue: Latest Music Bar, 14-17 Manchester Street, Brighton, BN2 1TF

Bring styles and smiles for swopping joy.

FREE -3-7pm

We will have nutritionists, massage therapists, reflexologists and style consultants on hand for free feel good sessions and tips.

The first event of many.

Email: dibbosback@yahoo.co.uk

HARROGATE FROCK EXCHANGE

18 Feb 2010 19:00

Venue: PACA HARROAGTE

£6 admission fee

Free make overs and nail treatments on the night.

Ring 01423 505368 for more info

Email: info@pacaconcept.co.uk

Clothes Exchange and Competitive Cupcakes

20 Feb 2010 14:30

Venue: The HiFi Club, Leeds

Everyone has a collection of unworn shopping-spree residue that doesn’t fit but sits at the back of the wardrobes, crumpled and rejected. HiFi Club knows this and aims to provide an outlet for these unloved possessions by holding a swap shop on Saturday’s. £2 will get you into the first event on 20th February and from 2pm to 5.30pm people will be free to exchange what clean, well kept clothes they have with them.

If the prospect of new clothes wasn’t enough, HiFi are holding the Swap Shop in unison with a themed cupcake competition that will offer prizes to the top three cupcakes. This month’s theme is music - so if you can’t handle the wardrobe, get into the kitchen!

20 February, The HiFi Club, 2 Central Road, LS1 6DE, 0113 242 7353, 2pm-5.30pm, £2 (free with a cupcake entry). All bakers must register by emailing sophie@thehificlub.co.uk. For more information, visit the Facebook page by searching for ‘Clothes Exchange and Competitive Cupcakes’

Email: sophie@thehificlub.co.uk

The Happiness Centre Swish

21 Feb 2010 10:00

Venue: The Happiness Centre, 32a Leeds Road, Ilkley

Come to The Happiness Centre Swish in Ilkley. 10am-5pm. If you can drop off your clothes to swap before the event that would be great. £10 entry includes snacks & drinks Call 01943-601517 or email Gerda for more details. our website address is www.liftthespirithealthesoul.com

Email: info@liftthespirithealthesoul.com

Swapaholics Swishing Event, London

21 Feb 2010 13:00

Venue: Juno, 134-135 Shoreditch High Street, London

We’re back by popular demand. A nice civilised swishing event. You won’t end up feeling like you have just endured the worst sale shopping of your life.

We will be holding the swish at Juno, a cool bar in Shoreditch where you will be able to grab a spot of lunch from their great menu.

Bring a minimum of five items to swap CLEAN new or gently worn clothes, shoes, accessories or anything another woman would love.

No undies!!! (apart from the ones you are wearing, of course)

If everyone makes a pledge to bring these items, we are guaranteed to have a great time and go home happy bunnies

When you arrive we take your items and sort them into categories. You go into the bar and have a few drinks and a natter with your friends until browsing time commences.

Browsing time allows everyone to see what is available, try items on and see if you LOVE them. Then the swap rounds begin and you can take what you want for free. If two or more swappers want the same item, we hold a raffle and the winner is the lucky new owner. I will be available to give style advice to anyone who needs it.

All items left at the end of the event will be donated to charity.

This is a ticket only event. Tickets cost a credit busting fiver and need to be paid for in advance. We have limited number of tickets available so you need to grab one fast. Please go to www.raejames-personalstylist.com/page9.htm for more information and to purchase tickets.

For more details please contact me at
tracey@raejames-personalstylist.com

The principles of sustainability can be applied to almost anything but for humans, it is the potential for long-term maintenance of wellbeing, which depends on the wellbeing of the natural world and the responsible use of its resouces. Fashion and clothing are well recognised as having a high environmental impact and being unsustainable. Here are just a few ways that you can become a more sustainable shopper when it comes to clothing and fashion:

• Buy clothes to last - choose quality pieces in classic styles that will not go out of fashion quickly.
• Look after clothes- ensure that clothes are washed according to instructions, protect from moths using cedarwood balls and make minor repairs as neccessary.
• Where possible buy second hand clothes or swap clothes.
• Recycle old clothes by selling them, swapping them or donating to charities.
• If you do buy new clothes, opt for sustainable fibres like organic cotton, bamboo and hemp.
• Consider carefully how you wash clothes and the environmental impact. Wash on a low temperature, line dry and use eco detergents where possible.