Clothes Swap

Looking to refresh your wardrobe? Clothes swapping is a clever and thrifty way to update your wardrobe, save money and help fight textile waste. 

Your pre-loved clothes in excellent condition will find a new home and you'll leave with 'new' second-hand items for your own closet. Register for our free clothes swap on Wednesday 17th April, as we come together for Fashion Revolution Week (Monday 15th - Wednesday 24th April), an annual campaign bringing together the world’s largest fashion activism movement for seven days of action.

How to take part

• This event is for students and staff at the University of Sydney. All ages and styles are welcome. 
  

• Tickets are free but spaces are limited. 

Details  

Location: ThinkSpace, Level 2, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02) (Above SciTech library), 160 City Road Darlington Campus, The University of Sydney NSW 2006.

Get directions using Google maps > 

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Times

• Check in: 10am - 11am
• Swap: 11:15am - 12:30pm

On the day

• What to bring: Up to 5 items of clothing in excellent condition to swap – check what items are accepted below. This 5-item limit makes it manageable for us to check and display all clothing before the swap starts and ensures we don’t have too many items left over.
• Check in: We’ll help you check in, confirm your items are suitable for swapping and exchange them for tokens. Each token can be swapped for one item of clothing. There is a one hour check-in period and 15 minutes of set-up time. Depending on when you check in, this means you could have up to one hour of downtime before the swap begins. You might like to grab a coffee or mingle with fellow fashion enthusiasts
• Swap time: You’ll have one hour to browse all the clothing and find your ‘new’ items. Items will be organised by type – this is much quicker than organising by size and we don’t want to keep you waiting. Each swap attracts different attendees, so you could find more women’s, men’s or children’s clothing depending on what’s brought on the day.
• Keep swap etiquette in mind: To ensure our swaps are fun and safe for all, certain behaviours won’t be tolerated. Please don’t run or hoard clothes. If you no longer want an item, return it neatly to the rack or table. If you have leftover tokens, give them to a fellow swapper. This will help us rehome as many clothes as possible.
• At the end of the swap: Take your treasures and tokens to the check-out desk.

How it works 

Watch the video from City of Sydney to learn more about Clothes Swaps! 

Check what items are accepted

• What you can bring: 

Bring up to 5 items of seasonally appropriate, excellent condition clothing for any size, gender and age. Excellent condition means the clothing is clean, pressed and free from rips, holes, stains or major faults. Only bring items you would proudly give to a friend.

• Tops, shirts, blouses and jackets
• Pants, jeans and shorts
• Skirts, dresses and suits
• Belts, bags and shoes
• Scarves, ties and hats

All styles and brands are accepted, provided they’re in excellent condition – so keep in mind that items will range from on-trend pieces to older classics. And although we love receiving them, we can’t guarantee everyone who brings a designer item will take home an equivalent piece.

• What you can't bring:

Items are checked before being put out for the clothes swap. If your items are unsuitable, you may be asked to take them home.

• Jewellery and wigs
• Underwear, socks and swimwear
• Sportswear and activewear 
• Anything stained, torn or unclean
• Noticeably worn out, shabby, pilling or frayed items

Leftover clothes

They’re donated to a local charity to be rehomed.

Fashion Revolution Week Program

• Tuesday 16th April, 11:30am - 1pm - Stitch Craft Launch with Morning Tea and Seminar Viewing Party "Fight Fast Fashion" 
• Wednesday 17th April, 10am – 12:30pm ­– Clothes Swap 
• Wednesday 17th April, 2pm – 4pm: – Mending Workshop 
• Friday 19th April, 10am – 12pm: Upcycling Workshop: T-Shirt to Tote Bag  
• Monday 22nd April, 1pm - 2pm: Intro to hand-sewing (event will be hosted in CreateSpace)
• Wednesday 24th April, 3pm - 5pm: Crocheting Workshop

Sustainability at Sydney

By working together as a University community, we can make our campuses more sustainable. Join a program or group today and help us reach our sustainability targets. Stay informed on new opportunities to get involved by joining our mailing list and following our social media. 

ThinkSpace | University of Sydney Library 

ThinkSpace is a technology showcase and creative play space, aimed at sparking ideas and providing opportunities for collaboration. Thanks to our most recent round of Sustainability Action Grants, the space now hosts a 'slow fashion' hub on campus. Dubbed "StitchCraft", the space will be stocked with sewing machines, equipment and second-hand fabrics to allow you to mend, repair, recycle and remake clothes.