Swap & Style: Festival Fits, Costumes & Funky Clothes Swap

New looks, no new clothes! Refresh your summer festival wardrobe, give your costume favourites another outing and discover the possibilities in pre-loved pieces.

Join Sustainable Queenstown for a playful evening of swapping, styling and community. Whether you’ve got a festival in the diary, a themed party coming up or simply love getting creative with clothes, come along to find new-to-you treasures and inspiration for your next look. This event is all about keeping clothes in use and out of landfill—through swapping, extending their life and finding creative alternatives to buying new.

Tuesday 1 December 2026 | 6–8pm
Arrowtown Community Centre
$5 to reserve your spot | Bookings essential

More than a clothing swap

We’re bringing some of our community’s most creative into the room to share their ideas and help you see clothing through fresh eyes.

Hear from local styling, costume and sustainable fashion creatives in a short panel packed with outfit inspiration, clever costume ideas and tips for making the most of what’s already in your wardrobe.

During the swap, visit their advice stations for a quick chat about styling, colour, alterations and upcycling. Found a fabulous vest but unsure how to wear it? They’ll help you explore its potential.

How it will work:

1. Bring your pieces and collect your tokens
   Drop off your swap items, receive your tokens and help set out your contributions. There’ll be time to mingle before we get started.

2. Get inspired
   We’ll kick things off with a short panel featuring local styling, costume and sustainable fashion creatives. Hear the stories behind their favourite outfits, pick up tips for creating costumes from everyday items, and learn how to spot potential in a piece of clothing.

3. Swap and style
   Explore the swap and use your tokens to take home your favourites. Visit our creatives at their advice stations for a quick chat about styling, colour, alterations or how to pull a look together.

4. Mingle & munch
   Enjoy getting to meet other festival fashion lovers while nibbling on some provided treats.

What to bring

Everyone must bring clothes to swap to take part. Choose pieces you’re ready to send on their next adventure, and bring a carry bag for your finds. They must be in good, clean and wearable condition.

Please leave shoes, bags and jewellery out of your swap contributions.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Reserve your spot

Spaces are limited. Book your $5 spot through Humanitix, bring your swap clothes and join us for an evening of creative possibilities!

Swap & Style is part of Resourceful Communities, a Sustainable Queenstown programme created by Wastebusters, and proudly supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council’s Zero Waste District Programme.