Swap, don't shop
Swap clothes with friends, family or your local community
Your Challenge
Rather than buying new clothes in the sales, or at the beginning of each season, why not host a clothes swap with friends and family? People often discard clothes they no longer like, have forgotten to return, that no longer fits, or they don't have space for. One person's trash could be another person's treasure!
To host a clothes swap, you'll need to pick a location (this could be your house, or even your garden in sunny weather), then set up a rail or space to hang or lay down clothing. Ask people to bring a few items they no longer wear, but remind people to make sure they aren't stained or broken. You could even combine it with another occasion like a movie night, a garden party, or a night out.
If you have clothing left over, consider selling them on second-hand websites or donating them to charity. And if you're looking for a bigger challenge, you could scale up your event to your local neighbourhood or community.
Why you're doing this
Clothes swaps are a fun and sustainable way to refresh your wardrobe without contributing to the impacts of fast fashion. Producing clothing requires land, energy and raw materials, all of which have a big impact on the environment and on people around the world. The UK throws away more textiles than any other country in Europe - 26.7kg per person each year! By swapping clothing with others you can save money, avoid waste and reduce demand for raw materials. Additionally a clothes swap is a great opportunity to socialise and have fun with friends, and declutter your wardrobe by getting rid of clothing you no longer wear.
How you'll make a difference
Synthetic fibres (like polyester, acrylic, nylon and elastane) are made from processed fossil fuels which we need to keep in the ground. Furthermore, brands often go on to destroy stock that is “out of season”, with vast amounts of textiles being sent to landfill or burned. By treasuring the clothes we have, we can all help reduce the consumer demand for throw-away, fast fashion and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Track your progress
in the My Footprint App
Track your progress and discover many more challenges in the My Footprint app. Available for iOS and Android devices.
