Fashion, it's beautiful, it's fun, and it brings us joy. Yet, it is also one of the most polluting industries in the world. From production to end-of-life, most fashion is designed linearly -- meaning once you're done wearing it, it ultimately ends up in landfill or incineration. Our consumption adds up: the average Aussie purchases 27kg of new clothing and textiles every year, and discards 23kg into landfill -- we throw out around 6,000kg of textiles every 10 minutes.

No thanks to that we say! This clothing swap is a way for you to consciously dispose of the loved pieces you no longer wear, or are a bit bored with, and swap with new friends. It is just like shopping a friend's wardrobe - but now we are looping in a bunch of new friends!

The swap is simple, no money changes hands and everyone is invited; however, venue space is limited so there are only a set number of spots available.

(FYI -- You can buy a ticket on the day; however, there is no EFTPOS terminal so it will need to be through this platform ☺️ )

TIMING:

Check-in: 10:30am - 11:30am
Swap: 11:45am - 1:00pm

There is a 1 hour check-in period and 15 minutes of set-up time. Depending on when you check in, this means you could have up to 1 hour of downtime before the swap begins. The event is at Bulimba Community Centre, which has a great park and lots of cafes nearby, so please feel free to bring down your kids and partners, have a coffee, and enjoy a day with fellow fashion enthusiasts.

There is some parking on site + adjacent street parking but we always encourage carpool and public transport (Bulimba Ferry Terminal is nearby).

WHAT CAN I BRING:

You can bring up to 10 items of excellent condition fashion for any size.

All brands and styles are welcome: modern, vintage, clothing, shoes, and handbags. The only major style rule is that they MUST be in excellent condition.

Tops, shirts, blouses, jackets
Pants, jeans, shorts, skirts
Dresses
Bags
Shoes & hats

That said, we've found over the years that swapping works best when the quality is high - so think Gorman and Country Road over Kmart and Shein (e.g., minimum original RRP of $40). Check our Instagram @swap.it_brisbane for some sneak peeks of items being swapped.

Basically, we ask that anything you bring be of the condition and quality that you would be happy to receive it or give it to your bestie :)

This means:

Items must be in good condition and free of major faults.
Items are clean and pressed
Items should be of good quality with lots of life still left in them
You should be emotionally detached from them. At the end, any clothing left over will be donated to charity

WHAT CAN'T I BRING:

Jewellery and wigs
Lingerie, socks, swimwear
Noticeably worn, shabby, pilling, or frayed items
Anything stained, torn, or unclean
Sportswear and activewear
- Note: High-quality activewear like Lululemon is acceptable provided it meets condition requirements)

Each piece will be checked by our team on the day and items will be rejected if they do not meet the above parameters.

FAQ:

So, how does it actually work on the day?

For each item, you will receive one swapping token. When you are ready to "check out," please take your items and tokens to one of our staff and they will sign you out.

Can I bring more than 10 items?

No, sorry. If you bring 11 pieces, we will have to reject one item. Please try to be balanced with goods.... e.g., don't just bring 8 pairs of shoes you no longer wear.

Can I bring less than 5 items?

Yes, 5 is a maximum, not the minimum. You can swap out the equivalent of what you bring in.

Do you take men or kids?

Sorry! We are an adults-only swap so we do not accept children's clothing. We don't take "mens" per say, but we will accept some masc pieces if they are unisex (e.g., a good band shirt but not a men's suit)

Can I bring designer fashion?

If you want! We love seeing designer items, but we can't guarantee that you will take home an equivalent piece.

What happens it items not swapped?

Anything left at the end will be donated to Do-Op, a non-denominational op shop that supports the local Brisbane community.

ABOUT US:

Swap It is organised by Katey, an avid fan of the secondhand marketplace and former owner of a secondhand fashion store in Perth. With years of experience running and organising secondhand shopping and swapping events, she knows that we are more than just "consumers" and have the power to create real change with fashion.

This event is organised to align with Fashion Revolution Week, a week dedicated to powering change in the fashion industry. Now in its 10th year, Fashion Revolution is the world's largest fashion activism movement, dedicated to building a global fashion industry that conserves and restores the environment and values people over growth and profit.

Learn more:

Contact the host of Swap It ~ a clothing swap event!