Ever since Twiggy`s recent TV series, Frock Swap, swishing has taken the nation by storm. Basically, swishing involves a group of people who come together with unwanted clothes in order to swap them for items that they prefer. It is exactly what fashion conscious people need during this economic downturn, particularly as we are beginning to reduce our spending on non-essentials such as clothing. Swishing is a great way of adding to your wardrobe without actually spending money, while at the same time finding a new home for that unworn dress that has lurked at the back of the cupboard for months. Nearly all of us have made an impulse buy at some point and lived to regret it or purchased a pair of jeans or shoes that are that teensy bit too small, but held on to them in the hope that one day they may miraculously fit. You need to be tough with yourself, collect them up and march them straight down to your local swishing party. It is a liberating experience and you can not help but gain from it. Most swishing parties have a required number of items that you must bring along with you, that you can exchange for the same number of items. So, for example, if you bring 4 unwanted fashion items, you can swap them for 4 other fashion items. You may have to pay an entrance fee or the swishing party may be free. Some swishing parties are small affairs, with just close friends and held in someone`s living room. Others may be big organised events for upwards of 100 people, and held in a larger space such as a church hall, hotel conference room or shop.
Organising a swishing party is simple. The best way to start out is to arrange a small party in your home and invite around 10 of your closest friends. Ask them to bring a certain number of unwanted items with them, which are clean, ironed and in good condition. The more clothes each person brings, the greater selection of clothes there are to swap. Perhaps 5 items each is a reasonable starting point, providing 50 fashion items to chose from. Specify what type of clothes to bring – shoes, belts, hats, jewellery, fashion clothing. When organising a large swishing party you will need to charge an entrance fee if you have hired a hall in which to hold the event. Hand out a number of vouchers according to the number of items brought, and remember to provide changing room space. A simple washing line secured at around 6 foot height with large blankets or old curtains slung over it makes a good impromptu changing space. Sell hot drinks and cakes at a swishing party to cover your costs.
You can even organise a clothes swap event as a fund raiser for your chosen charity or to raise money for your local hospital or school. Remember to publicise the event as much as possible. Email all your friends and ask them to pass it on. Print leaflets and put them in local libraries, shop windows and through nearby house letterboxes. Advertise in local free papers. Enjoy hunting for those special items and you may find yourself a Lacoste polo shirt.
