Posh Swaps Blog

09 Jun 2009 17:30

Venue: Borough Bar, 10-19 London Bridge Street, SE1 9SG

Buy a ticket for the London Frock Exchange and be in with a chance of winning an LK Bennett handbag, a magnum of champagne and more! Tickets are just £10 and include a glass of bubbly on arrival. Buy yours today at www.londonfrockexchange.org.uk.

Confirmed: Pat McNulty and Kat Webster from InStyle.co.uk will be at the London Frock Exchange giving fashion advice and helping you put your new outfits together!

The London Frock Exchange is in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society

05 Jun 2009 19:00

Venue: Charing Cross Hotel, London

“Shoe Spectacular” is a party for all those women who just love shoes. There is an accessories swap (swap up to 5 of your unwanted items), a mini fashion show, live music, shoe artists exhibitors, shopping opportunities and beauticians onsite. All guests will receive a goody bag.
Tickets are on sale for £8 (advance). To buy tickets or find out more, please visit http://www.lagenevenorthevents.co.uk/

Email: theresa@lagenevenorth.co.uk

02 Jun 2009 20:00

Venue: Pink Bar, 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane

The East London Craft Guerrilla are back in the Pink Bar at 93 Feet East holding the second of their monthly clothes swap on Tuesday 2nd June. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, fling open your drawers and bring all those clothes, shoes and accessories that you don’t wear anymore (although please make sure they’re clean and in good condition) and swap them for new ones! The Craft Guerrilla tutors will be available to help you pimp your new clothes with vintage buttons and other trimmings.

As with all our DIY Craft Nights, please feel free to bring your own projects. Foxed by a knitting pattern? Got your garter tangled with your stocking stitches? Running stitch run away with you? Want to learn how to darn / knit / crochet? Ask our tutors to help you out!

£5 cover charge if you’re taking part in the clothes swap or free entry if you’re bringing your own projects.

Please get there with your clothes by 8PM as the first hour will be spent hanging them up and eyeing up your potential swaps. Please bring at least one item to swap per person with a maximum of five items in total. The amount you bring is the amount you can take home.

Craft Guerrilla DJs: Masonic Boom / Anna / Dawn Chorus / Handsome Twins will provide some crafty beats while you knit, sew and pose in your new clothes.

For more information and to download the flyer click the image below or visit the events page at www.craftguerrilla.com.

Clothes swapping is the latest craze hit the UK. It first became popular in the US, where groups of friends joined together to swap clothes and accessories that they no longer wanted. Clothes swapping events have now become big news with both large and small scale events being organised all over the UK.

Clothes swapping is probably the ultimate guilt free alternative to shopping. It helps to reduce waste and the environmental impact of manufacturing new clothes. Clothes swapping comes at a time when consumers are becoming more aware of the ethical and environmental credentials of their fashion. People are also keen to recycle and reuse in an attempt to reduce consumerism and its damaging effect on the planet.

Clothes swapping parties have also become really popular as they are a great way to get some new clothes, catch up with friends and have fun. Sustainable Communications consultancy  Futterra Communications have given clothes swapping parties the name ’swishing’, after the sound made by silk. Their website www.swishing.org gives loads of information on how to hold a swishing parties and even has invitations to download.

Basically, it is quite simple to organise a clothes swap. Invite your friends along. Each should bring one lovely piece of clothing that they no longer want and would like to swap. The clothing should be in great condition and something that someone else  would love to have.

At the beginning of the clothing swap, all the clothes should be laid out for everyone to browse and the rules explained. This is also a good time to serve drinks and nibbles and for everyone to have a chat. You can then count down to the beginning of the swap. Once the swap begins, everyone can grab which ever pieces of clothing they want.

Futerra suggests a very simple set of rules:

• When the swish opens, whatever people take is theirs
• Everybody must bring at least one item but can leave with as many as they like
• No one can claim items before the Opening of the Swish

You could try adding a bit more interest to your swap by adding a sewing machine for an crafty friends to alter or customise clothes- a great way to get some unique and individual clothes.

You could also try swapping your clothes online at www.posh-swaps

picture of Rag&Beau clothes swap, 23/04/09 from www.swishing.org

If you get easily bored of your clothes, join the club. After wearing a particular uniform for a whole season, I am often sick of the sight of it. Even though it is still in perfectly good condition (usually) and not out of fashion. I suppose this is why many people resort to fast fashion for a quick retail fix and a wardrobe refresh.

But I am becoming more and more determined to stick my principles of avoiding fast fashion and  opting for better quality clothes that will not go out of fashion. The problem with spending more money on an item of clothing is that it usually makes me less likely to take risks and instead I always end up with the safe options.

The Solution is clothes swapping. I get the best of both world, a new look with quality clothes, which I find looks much better than cheap clothes anyway. But because I have not spent so  much money, I am more inclined to try out new looks and have a bit of fun with what I am wearing. If the look doesn’t work or I don’t feel great in it, I can always swap it for something else.