Croydon Clothes Swap: March

Croydon Community Clothes Exchange is a non-profit 3-monthly event where you can swap the unloved clothing sitting at the back of your wardrobe with other swappers, for clothing that’s new-to-you.

It’s retail therapy with a waste free, impact-reducing, community-oriented twist.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. The Clothes Swap is £4 entry (pay on the day), with all proceeds going back into Turf and the running of the exchange.
2. Wash + check before bringing to the exchangeWash your clothing and check everything over for damage before you bring, or it’ll be rejected. heck everything over for wear and damage before you bring.
3. Swap ettiquette! Bring clothing in a condition you’d be happy to swap for yourself. We don’t want to reject items, but sometimes we have to – please treat us with understanding if so.
4. Bring up to 20 clothing items to swap.We accept any adult clothing, shoes & large accessories in good condition.
5. Volunteers sort & approve clothing upon entry, and record how many items you brought in.If anything isn’t approved we’ll let you know and you can choose to donate it for recycling or we’ll return it to you.Swap ettiquette! Please give us room to sort and put clothes out – it’s hard work! We know it’s exciting, but please don’t crowd us, hover over us or ask to look on the sorting rails.
6. Head into the swap & discover what others have brought!You can take away up to the number of items you brought along. If you take away less, your ‘credits’ are recorded and carried over for next time, up to a maximum of 20. The exchange runs once every three months.Swap ettiquette! We can’t ever guarantee you’ll find something at the swap, as it depends on what else others have brought along. If you don’t, we can’t return items you brought with you. If you’re unsure if the swap is for you, you’re welcome to peruse the rails before swapping.

WHAT TO SWAP

• Any adult clothing, shoes and large accessories, washed & in good condition.

WHAT NOT TO SWAP

• Anything in poor condition (major stains, damage, smells, generally at the end of its life). Hopefully this goes without saying, but wash your clothes before you bring them!

• Underwear, swimwear, nightwear – unless brand new with tags.

• Childrens’ clothing. Childrens’-only swaps are best for this!

WHY SWAP?

• Fashion is the world’s 2nd largest polluter behind the oil industry.

• 3/5 of all clothing is discarded within a year of being made.

• Compared to 2002, the average person buys 60% more clothing, but keeps clothing half as long.

• 1/4 of the chemicals produced worldwide are used in textiles.

• 85% of the world’s garment workers are women; often poorly paid + working in unsafe conditions.

ABOUT US

CCS has been set up aiming to reduce local waste and provide a mini antithesis to the increasing commercialisation of Croydon.

CCS is not for profit, run by a majestic team of volunteers + is supported by community arts charity Turf Projects.