Let's Get Circular! Modest Fashion Consumption & The Clothing Swap
Originally Published on October 29, 2021
As an avid consumer of all things fashion I am aware of the fast fashion vortex. The environmental and social risks the fashion industry poses affect the planet and everyone, especially BIPOC communities which typically face the brunt of the industry’s impact. Knowing this I still cannot imagine my life without style, flair, and the drama of sunglasses. Thus, my career as a sustainable and ethical fashion professional was born.
I hold a Master of Arts degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in sustainable and ethical fashion. I (and many others) are on a mission to turn our passion for fashion into something that is positive for the people and the planet. I firmly believe that fashion, much like everything else, should be consumed in moderation and modestly. If we’re getting rid of clothes that are brand new and unworn, then we are not modest consumers. The constant barrage of trends, impulse shopping and lack of knowledge of where clothing goes when we donate or throw them out, are all factors in the vicious fast fashion cycle.
In the middle of summer I had outgrown my wardrobe consisting of last spring and summer pieces. I wanted something new, something fun. I was not alone. My friends and family were also facing the same issue. We all wanted something fresh and exciting in our closets, without entering the harmful cycle of fast fashion. A friend who I was complaining to about my fashion struggle suggested a clothing swap between three people. I volunteered to host the clothing swap and took the liberty of inviting everyone I knew who wanted new clothes. My intention was to promote circularity and reduction of fashion waste in my friend groups.
“I sent out invitations stating, ‘Clothing swap! Bring your new and gently worn clothes to swap. Reduce your fashion carbon footprint and give your closet a makeover!’”
Eight women gathered in my living room on a Saturday afternoon in pursuit of the thrill of building a new wardrobe and that warm feeling of doing good for the planet. Participants of the swap ranged from sustainability professionals to college students looking to save money on new clothes. I had set up tables for clothes to lay across but there just wasn’t enough space so clothes were also hung from curtain rods and lamps. Shoes were placed on a blanket in the center of the action. I set a large full length mirror against a wall and offered my bedroom as a changing room to try on new pieces.
The swap was a safe space for experimenting with style. One participant noted, “I wasn’t sure what to expect but I thought to bring some of my nice clothes that I just know I am not going to wear again. It was a wonderful experience seeing other women talking to one another and helping each other trying new clothes and swapping stories about where they got them.”
The clothing swap turned into one of those movie montages of everyone trying on new clothes and personas; it was a blast. It was common that when one woman picked up another's clothes the owner of the item would tell her a story of the memories the clothing held. Not only were the clothes getting a second life but were also given a chance to make more memories and add to their charm.
By swapping clothes instead of throwing them out, or donating them to a system which leads to clothes ending up in the Global South’s landfills, we participated in the circular economy. This economy is not linear, items are not discarded when they reach their “peak”. Instead, the item is either reused, mended, or made into something else.
“The clothes swap ensured that the clothes were given a new home instead of gathering dust at the back of the closet or ending up in a landfill where they would sit for decades.”
In a post swap interview an environmentally conscious participant commented, “It [the swap] strengthens my resolve to prioritize shopping sustainably when my friends have the same mindset and actively support each other in doing so.”
As for myself, the swap gave me a new oversized blazer, a jumpsuit, and a very Britney Spears circa 98’ skirt. It was a gratifying experience to help my friends and family reduce their fashion footprint while at the same time engaging in my favorite activity of getting crafty with how I procure new fashion items.
I plan to host a larger winter clothing swap and have an open invite so there can be more participants to increase the number of fashion options and maximize the reduction of fashion waste.
Hawa Patel
Hawa holds an MA in Global Affairs from Rice University where she combined her love for fashion and academic background in international security to study sustainable and ethical fashion as a global issue. Hawa is currently serving as a Sustainability Leader for Seeds Platform. When not talking or thinking about fashion, Hawa is reading romance novels or painting from the Female Gaze and definitely planning her next trip.
