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 fit, or that 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).
- Set up a rail or space to hang or lay out the clothing.
- Ask people to bring a few items they no longer wear, but remind people to make sure they’re not 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 clothes left over, consider selling them on second-hand websites or donating them to charity. 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 is one of the most wasteful countries in Europe, throwing away over 200,000 tonnes of textiles every year. [1] 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
By swapping clothing with others you can save money, avoid waste and reduce demand for raw materials.
Synthetic fibres (such as polyester, acrylic, nylon and elastane) are made from processed fossil fuels, which we need to keep in the ground. Furthermore, brands often destroy stock that is ‘out of season’, with vast amounts of textiles being burned or sent to landfill. So, by treasuring the clothes we have, we can all help reduce the consumer demand for throwaway, 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.
