Dublin City Council has launched a new Clothes Swap Guide to assist anyone who wishes to plan their own clothes-swapping event.
The Council is also running a pilot project that will offer local community groups an opportunity to borrow a ‘Clothes Swap Kit’ containing the equipment, such as rails and hangers, they may want for their event.
Community clothes swaps encourage the sharing of clothing and offer an alternative to fast fashion. Clothes swaps inspire and support people who wish to think differently about their wardrobe. They offer a way to look stylish and save money, while also reducing your environmental footprint.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy
A clothes swap is a party or event where people bring the clothes they no longer wear and exchange them for clothes they will use. Clothes swaps offer a way to find new styles in a sustainable way.
What are the benefits of a clothes swap?
Organising or attending a clothes swap is a positive environmental action. Much of the clothes we don’t want to wear anymore are still in a good condition. Swapping clothes keeps these clothes in use for longer and stops good clothes from going to waste. This will save water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the negative environmental impacts. Clothes swapping is a fun and easy way to find something new to wear.
People can update their wardrobes at a clothes swap without spending a fortune. Clothes swaps also provide an opportunity for a community to come together socially or even raise money for a good cause.
New Clothes Swap Guide and Community Clothes Swap Kit
Clothes protect us from the elements and keep us warm. They are an essential part of life. Our choice of clothing and style can also be a form of self-expression and empowerment. A circular fashion industry designs clothes that can be kept in use for as long as possible. These clothes can be endlessly repaired or transformed into other useful items. A circular production loop in fashion ensures clothes do not become waste.
As stated by Martha Casserly, Executive Environmental Scientific Officer in Waste Management Services, “Most people have good quality clothes they no longer wear or want. These clothes don’t need to become waste. Large amounts of raw materials, resources and energy go into making clothes. Clothes Swaps offer the chance for good clothes to have longer useful lives”.
The free guide outlines the steps, tips and suggestions for planning a successful event. It is available to everybody and written in plain English.
Local community groups also have an opportunity to borrow a Clothes Swap Kit.
The kit is designed to provide a community group with the equipment they may want for their events, such as pop-up rails, signage stands, hangers and signage.
Further information about booking the kit can be found here.