Clothing swaps are a form of circular fashion because they allow us to extend the lifespans of clothing that is already in circulation. They are a way of working with what we already have while satisfying our desire for novelty.

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Why we should all try to swap before we shop Swapping allows us to understand fashion as something much more than financial exchanges, which makes it a powerful substitute to our current capitalist fashion system. Each season in life comes with different changes. Whether it be size fluctuations or an evolving sense of personal style, swaps allow you to add garments to your wardrobe that suit your current life season, while avoiding having to engage with the endless consumption cycles of the fashion industry. It’s usually very cost affordable too – some swaps are free and others charge a small entry or maintenance fee. This makes swapping a financially inclusive way for people to participate in slow fashion. Plus, if you are swapping more and shopping less, it allows you to save up and invest in a slow fashion brand that you truly believe in.

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It is also a way to responsibly rehome clothing that you no longer wear. When we donate clothing, only a small percentage of it gets resold and the rest often becomes a part of the unjust global trade in secondhand clothes – making our waste the burden of those living in countries in the Global South. But when it comes to swaps, the clothing you no longer wear will more often than not find a new home with someone else.

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Beyond the clothes, clothing swaps are beautiful spaces for community building, because you get to connect with like-minded people in the slow fashion community.

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If you want to hear more about why clothing swaps are such an important part of the future of fashion, check out this episode of the Conscious Style Podcast with Nicole Robertson of Swap Society.