This is the time many of us look to spring clean our wardrobe and perhaps add a few items ahead of the summer season. But how can you do it on the cheap? Let's introduce you to swishing.
The term 'swishing' was first coined by a sustainable PR agency based on the noise of rustling clothes from your friends make as you swap old clothes for new. And how we like to swish!
Clothes swapping parties have increasingly grown in popularity worldwide over the past couple of years, and there are now several websites dedicated to the activity that will give you advice on how to host your own swishing party, where you can find out about forthcoming events and even swap your unwanted clothes and accessories online.
How to host swishing party
With Facebook it has never been easier to organise a swishing party for you and your friends. Just pick the day, create an event, invite those you think would be interested in coming and start going through your wardrobe.
As your friends come around with items they'd like to pass on, serve some refreshments and get browsing. The swishing etiquette is to bring items that are in good condition and to take away the same number of items as you bring to the party.
Sometimes you could get lucky - I got a wonderful Jaeger dress once. It all depends on where your friends like to shop...
Reasons to start swishing?
Every year in the UK we buy around 2 million tonnes of clothes and throw away approximately 1 million tonnes. Just think about all the energy, water and toxins that have been used to produce and get rid of these items.
Chances are also that you have several pieces of clothing in your wardrobe that have never been worn, bought with the intention to fit into them once those last stubborn lbs had vanished or it was such a great deal in the sales that you simply couldn't not buy it...
Swishing is like a car boot sale with better things, more fun and none of the bartering.
Going to swishing events can be a lot of fun - I once had the beautiful Kelly Brook bag my finds - and it is the greenest, most sustainable way to update your wardrobe out there.
Find out more about swishing here:
