Swishing
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! 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 for the benefit of the planet and your pocket.
There are many helpful guides online for planning a fun 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. The Dutch initiative of “Ketting Kledingruil”, or “chain of clothing swaps” follows the basic gist of everyone filling one bag full of 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 personalized by different organizations.
The Swapshop: Amsterdam and Rotterdam
This is a unique initiative that organizes long-term clothing swaps in a permanent store. You can bring your clothes in for points, then use them to buy other swappers’ wardrobes at a discount. However, they also arrange large-scale swap events. Here many swappers gather to swap clothes within one day, using the same point system. The Swapshop aims to extend the life of clothing whilst enabling swapping to be the new normal.
The Fashion for Good Museum: Amsterdam
This interactive fashion museum tells the stories behind the clothes you wear and the impact of the right clothing choices. They believe the industry must change and help you create an action plan to make a positive impact through your own fashion adventure. The museum shop holds a curated selection of innovative and affordable sustainable clothing. They change themes regularly and promote food for thought. The Fashion for Good museum also occasionally holds large-scale swapping events that you should keep your eye out for!
Rental
Do you love fashion but have no need to own large quantities of clothes? Then a clothing library is 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! Here are some great options that you can read more about in this blog about Clothing Libraries or on their store pages on COSH!:
Resale
Shops that give their own clothes a second chance to be resold after consumption is what COSH! absolutely loves! In this way, the shop takes responsibility and keeps the clothes in cycle for a longer time. An example of resale is SeventyOne in Antwerp, Bruges, Gent, and Leuven. Discover the branches on our COSH! second-hand map.
At SeventyOne you will find next to the new collections also a resale option. Customers can bring their retro clothes to one of the boutiques or send them in by post and receive a voucher in return. The returned garments are resold in the resale department of the shop. This system is a perfect example of a circular economy where garments stay in the cycle for as long as possible.
Read more here to learn about how these innovative retail concepts can revolutionise the fashion industry.
