Designer clothes up for grabs, giveaways, and free wine – you’d expect this mix to result in a stampeding, chaotic mess.

But on Sunday, there was none of that at the St James Theatre where the Big Shwop was happening.  Instead, most participants went home with a brand new wardrobe and a guilt-free conscience.

(From left) Inga Boyd, Sarah Hopkins, and Christine McGonigal are the masterminds behind the event, and their vision behind the shwop is simple: fashion without sacrificing the environment.  This brilliant idea has the added benefit of being extremely gentle on the wallet.  Here’s how it works:

Shwoppers bring along unwanted articles of clothing in like-new condition and receive a voucher for each piece accepted.  Volunteers then spend a couple hours sorting the garments onto racks (donated by Icebreaker) while participants enjoy a free glass of organic wine, compliments of Momo.  Representatives from Kowtow and Trilogy are in attendance to give talks about the benefits of fair-trade and organic products.  When the shwopping begins, everyone’s on their own to find pieces of clothing they like and fit, and participants can redeem one article of clothing per voucher.  The idea is that everyone adds something new to their wardrobe without having to spend anything on it, and it’s good for the environment because no resources are being used to create new products!

Fashion on a budget

The entrance fee to the event was $20, so no, it wasn’t entirely free.  However, the giveaways alone were worth more than $20.  Women received a Trilogy Everything Balm (RRP $22), men received a Trilogy Aftershave Balm (RRP $32), and everyone received a free glass of Momo wine or Tuatara beer, a bar of Ecostore soap (RRP $4), and a choice of Trilogy face cleanser (up to a $32 value) if they brought an old used cleanser to swap in.  That’s more than $60 in free goods before we even talk about the clothes!

Since you had to bring clothes in order to get clothes, it was a good opportunity for me to clean out my wardrobe and get rid of those  I-rarely-wear-but-don’t-want-to-part-with-because-they’re-so-new items.  This event seemed like a worthy cause and a worth-it cause because I’d be getting something back in exchange (a bit selfish, but that’s the budget-brain talking).  I brought four items, and they accepted all four (the max was 20, but I couldn’t find nearly that amount in like-new condition).  So armed with my vouchers, I waited anxiously for the volunteers to raise the ribbon barring the staircase to the first floor where the racks of clothes were waiting.

I expected a scene comparable to the piranha feeding frenzies you see on National Geographic, and I had my elbows out ready to box out and stand my ground, but it was quickly evident that there was no need for that.  As soon as the volunteers gave the go, the herd of participants (women of all shapes spanning at least 3 generations) filed civilly up the stairs to browse the racks.  I headed for the row of tops first, since this was what was most lacking in my wardrobe, and my friend beelined for the dresses.  (We strategised ahead of time and agreed that splitting up while keeping an eye out for items for the other person would be the most efficient way to tackle this shwop.)  Soon, we had heaps of new threads to try on!

The fitting area was well-operated, limiting participants to 5 items per try.  Going with a friend made it easy because we took turns holding and trying on.  After making some tough decisions, I narrowed my picks down to 4 items and a pile of maybes.  In the end, my friend didn’t find enough clothes that suited her, so I benefitted from her extra vouchers.  (You’re the best, girlie!)

This was the first time the Big Shwop had a he-shwop section, but sadly, that demographic was poorly represented.  Another friend’s partner was the only possessor of a Y chromosome in sight, and it took him 5 seconds to scan the scant gents’ racks to decide there was nothing there for him.  I know it’s not really a guy-thing to swap clothes, but it’s such a resourceful way of updating your wardrobe!  Come on, guys!

Staying in the green (budget-wise and environmentally)

So was it worth the $20 entrance fee?  Yes, in a heartbeat.  One of the items I scored at the shwop was a $300-something pair of wool trousers by New Zealand designer Zana Feuchs.  The items I brought combined probably didn’t even total that.  Of course, I’m sure there were other participants who were less lucky and might not have found items that were worth their while.  So I’ve thought of a few things that might increase your chances of a successful shwop experience:

1. Make sure that the clothes you bring are ones that you mean to get rid of anyway (and they do have to be well-made).  Even with the strict quality clothing requirements, it can be a bit hit-and-miss, and there isn’t a guarantee that you’ll find truckloads of things that suit you, so you don’t want to leave feeling bitter about the items you donated.
2. Have in mind ideas of what you’d like to get so that you’re not overwhelmed and flustered.  Focus, perhaps, on a particular color, style, or garment type to narrow down your choices.
3. If you didn’t end up using all your vouchers, don’t worry!  You’ll get credit for those at the next shwop you attend.

Overall, the Big Shwop is a well-organised, ethically and environmentally-minded, budget-conscious event.  Fifteen percent of the proceeds go to the Fair Trade Association, and all the clothes that remain are donated to charity.  You can hardly feel bad about the $20 you pay to attend, and if you consider that as part of your budget for clothes shopping, chances are high that you’ll be getting much more than that amount back in quality new clothes.

In the past, the Big Shwop has been held in Wellington and Auckland, so keep an eye out on their blog for the next one!

Hold your own swap party

If you’re not in Wellington or Auckland (and even if you are), it’s really easy to hold your own swap with a group of friends.  I’m part of a regular one, and it’s a great, inexpensive way to update your wardrobe while spending a pleasant afternoon catching up.  Your swap doesn’t have to have an entrance fee or quality criteria like the Big Shwop, and there won’t be a huge crowd to compete with either.  If you hold them regularly, you can have a constantly evolving wardrobe without ever needing to buy new clothes!  Great for the budget and great for the environment!

What are some other ways of staying on budget while still keeping an interesting wardrobe?  For the guys, how could a clothes swap be modified so that you would want to attend?