Swishing
What do you do if you love buying new clothes, but still have beautiful clothes hanging in your closet that you no longer wear? In the search for a more sustainable solution, the concept of shopping for clothes and exchanging them at the same time emerged, called ‘swishing’ in England and ‘swapping’ in the US. A swishing party is a small-scale clothes swap event arranged by a group of friends. Everyone has those clothes in the back of their wardrobe that never make the cut. It’s time you find them a new home! Swishing (and swapping) is a great way to renew your wardrobe at the benefit of the planet and your pocket.
This fun term was coined in the early 2000s by Lucy Shea, the managing Director of Futerra Group (UK’s leading sustainability communications agency). She wanted to change her consumption behaviour without compromising her love for fashion. So she brought to the world the fun and sustainable concept of a swishing party!
Interested in this circular concept? Organise your own swishing party! You can set rules and even create your own form of currency for the party. Get as creative as you’d like and get ready to explore your friends’ extensive wardrobe!
Swapping
Swapping is the same as swishing but on a larger scale. When we talk about swapping, it is the process of exchanging valuable but unused clothes between 2 or more parties. A clothes swap is a great way to change your wardrobe, save money and limit your participation in the fast fashion industry.
The Dutch initiative of The Clothing Loop follows the basic gist of everyone filling one bag full with their clothes; which then follows a certain route, from which you can pick clothing more suitable to you without having to pay much or anything. This concept has since been adopted and personalised by different organisations and groups of friends. Also ideal when you have kids that outgrow their clothes really fast!
You can also swap your clothes in a professional and permanent store like The Swapshop in Amsterdam! (they also have a location in Rotterdam). You can bring in your clothes in return for points, then use them to buy other swappers’ wardrobes with a discount. With this concept, The Swapshop adds value to every purchase by giving unused clothes a new life.
Or swap clothes at a swap event! Various retailers, designers and organisations organise their own clothing swap events to make swapping even more fun, such as the concept Holy Swap. Or discover an event near you here on COSH!
Rental
Do you love fashion but have no need to own large quantities of clothes? Then a clothing library is something for you! Through a point system or subscription you can easily rent beautiful outfits for everyday life or a special occasion. So you don’t always have to buy new pieces but you still have a great variety in your style!
Discover clothing library LENA Fashion Library in Amsterdam. This store in Amsterdam is up to change the way we buy since 2014. You can rent clothes from inspiring, starting designers, but also from leading and more sustainable Amsterdam brands such as MUD Jeans, King Louie, BYBROWN, New Optimist and Kings of Indigo.
Discover even more clothing libraries and rental initiatives in this article!
Resale
Shops that give their own clothes a second chance to be sold after consumption are what we at COSH! are all about! In this way, the shop takes its responsibility and keeps the clothes in the shop for a longer time. An example of reseller is OSKA in Amsterdam, where you can bring in clothes that you no longer wear. We love it!
Or take responsibility yourself and bring your clothes to a second-hand shop. Do the clothes still look very good or are they even unworn? Then you can go to sophisticated boutiques that sell high-quality pre-loved clothes, such as De Ruilhoek, garment and Studio Wolf. For more used clothing you can go to local thrift shops such as ReShare Store, The Swapshop, De Lokatie noord 1, noord 2 or oost, Modestraat and Weggeefwinkel New Life West.
There are also plenty of opportunities for reselling children’s clothing. Ideal for children who quickly outgrow their clothes! Take a look at second-hand children’s shops Otis en de wolf, Old West, Jofel Amsterdam, Ziggy + Lucy, Quinnie’s and ROOKIE.
Would you rather get started selling your clothes second hand yourself? Then definitely read our tips!
