Dear Sam,
Will you be hosting another clothing swap this year? I found some amazing pieces last year!
Sincerely,
Chris
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Dear Chris,
Yes! We are excited about the growing popularity of our clothing swap. Our 4th Annual Clothing Swap will be on Saturday, August 24, from 10 AM – 1 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 4842 Nicollet Avenue.
Clothing swaps are such an easy and community-focused way to address the ever-present problem of the mounds of unwanted clothing we all seem to find ourselves with every year. While, for whatever reason, we may not want the items in our closet any longer, they are almost always still in perfectly usable condition. They could be just the treasure another person is searching for.
We have intentionally timed our clothing swap to be just ahead of the start of the school year to capture the back-to-school shopping fever, so be sure to mark your calendars. Clear out your kids’ closets, bring in some things to swap, and then shop the swap for new school clothes! There will definitely be some excellent items that will be perfect for your school-age kids from elementary right through high school. And there are always plenty of adult-size brought for swapping, so remember to pick up a new item for yourself!
Over the last few months, I’ve noticed a lot of awareness on social media about the problem of excess clothing and so-called “fast fashion.” I think there is a real trend out there to shop thrift stores and clothing swaps and build your wardrobe from a mix of new and used pieces. Some posts I’ve seen are funny, and some are very poignant. Some of my favorites include this Instagram reel showing a dump in Chile where they send unwanted clothes–the images are unreal! This Instagram pokes fun at why we think we need so many accessories. And recently, SNL did a skit about the fast fashion industry that was very funny. You can watch it here.
Breaking our fast-fashion habits feels daunting, as fast fashion has become ingrained in our culture. However, clothing swaps and thrift store shopping can make breaking the habit less painful–and even fun! We can get our shopping fix and still have those fun accessories but with less impact on the environment and our wallets. Grab a friend and have fun thrifting and shopping!
Sustainably,
Sam