Want to refresh your wardrobe without worrying about the environmental costs? Keep your looks fresh while protecting the environment by attending or hosting a clothing swap!
Sustainable fashion can be tricky, but clothing swaps are a great way to lower clothing waste while having a good time with friends and trying out brand new styles.
Read on to learn about how “fast fashion” impacts the planet and how clothing swaps can be one solution to the ongoing overconsumption of clothing.
What is Fast Fashion?
The term “fast fashion” refers to the production of clothing in high volumes due to quick turnover in clothing cycles and trends.
Garments of the fast fashion industry are typically cheaply made, not durable, and are used for only a short period of time.
Historically, clothing brands released products in 4 seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer. With the rise of fast fashion, there now exist 52 “micro-seasons,” leading to massive overconsumption and waste of clothing.
Fast Facts About Fast Fashion
Around the Globe…
- The equivalent of a full garbage truck of clothing ends up in landfills every second.
- The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
- By 2030, we are estimated to discard of more than 134 million tons of textiles annually.
In the United States…
- The average American throws away 82 pounds of clothing each year.
- Only about 13% of discarded clothes and shoes actually end up being recycled.
- Around 85% of all textiles thrown away are either dumped into a landfill or burned.
What is a Clothing Swap?
A clothing swap is a get-together where people bring clothing they no longer want to exchange for clothing brought by others.
Hosting or attending a clothing swap helps to combat the effects of fast fashion by allowing you to refresh your wardrobe without buying any new clothes.
Clothing swaps are cost-effective, serve as a fun social event, and are a great way to try out new styles!
How to Host a Clothing Swap
- Go through your closet to identify clothes and accessories you no longer want or use.
- Invite friends of all shapes & sizes to do the same and attend your clothing swap.
- Note a range of how many items each person should bring.
- Request that guests bring only properly cleaned items in wearable or redeemable conditions.
- Have out tables or clothing racks to display clothing items to guests.
- Designate a room for trying on clothes equipped with a mirror.