The Perth clothing swaps keeping quality items in circulation and out of landfill

They’re the ultimate treasure hunt and a guilt free way of freshening up your wardrobe!

Clothing swaps – keeping quality items in circulation and out of landfill.

Whether it’s a suburban swap or a designer fashion exchange, you’re guaranteed to go home with some great new additions, without spending a cent.

And it’s not just clothes either – shoes, handbags, accessories and more are all on the table.

They’re a “community styling session,” according to sustainable stylist Ciara Lowe-Thiedeman: “We need to normalise borrowing more, second hand is not second best. Consider yourself as a treasure hunter, not a shopper.”

And with cost-of-living pressures, alongside Perth’s op shops and op shop hubs, these events are becoming more and more popular.

“For the past three years I’ve been running weekly workshops in Swan, Canning, Vincent, Stirling, and Fremantle,” she says. “They’re becoming a social gathering opportunity. Demand has absolutely been higher the past 12 months.”

Each one is a little different, often run by local councils or charities, though the ethos remains the same – you bring in your items which aren’t getting enough love and see if you can find a few gems to take home for yourself.

The Western Metropolitan Regional Council also holds regular adult and kids swaps, with clothes weighed on the way in and out, to see how much is being saved from landfill.

Fremantle has a series of circular styling sessions coming up too, including one Sunday 27 July at the Walyalup Civic Centre.

Tarn Deere (pictured below) is among those behind Perth’s slow fashion movement, launching a designer exchange a few years ago called The Exchange Co. – a high-fashion swap invites attendees to bring pre-loved gems in excellent condition.

“After delivering some local community clothing swaps I realised there was fashion lurking in all of our wardrobes which we hold value to, however for some reason or another we don’t want to let them go,” she says.

“Creating high-quality fashion exchange events meant there was an opportunity for ladies to walk away with another item of similar value.”

It was launched in 2020 with three events a year and it now runs every couple of months, with their next coming up on August 3 at Solaris Shop in Cottesloe.

“I’ve noticed a huge shift in the public looking to make conscious decisions and every fashion exchange I deliver is growing, with a like-minded group of women who want to update their high-quality wardrobe sustainably…

“It’s exciting to see the circular fashion economy in Perth growing with so many opportunities to keep fashion in the loop. We should never have to buy new again.”

Sustainability guru Loraine Martin (pictured with Tarn, below) is on hand to give fashion tips too, and remind people that beautiful pieces “don’t belong in wardrobes”.

“How many of us have bought beautiful garments and have only worn them once? These can be someone else’s love-to-death piece.”

The racks are often lined with mid-to-high level brands.

“Last time we had some Camilla, Colette Dinnigan and a brand new Mimco bag, so you’re more inclined to bring better quality things knowing that you’re probably going to swap them for things that are also of high quality,” she says.

“You’re getting out of your comfort zone and trying a piece you wouldn’t necessarily buy. It’s a way of trying new styles without purchasing.”

The “swap, don’t shop” message is more important than ever, with Australia in recent years claiming the unfortunate gold medal for textile consumption – on average, we buy 56 items per year, ahead of the US with 53 and miles ahead of the UK with 33.

Ciara Lowe-Thiedeman sums it up well: “We don’t value clothes any more. We see them as disposable.”

So these events are a fun way to step back from fast fashion and micro trends, get more life out of your wardrobe, and make your clothes your currency!

Image Credit: The Exchange Co., Lee Steele

Lee Steele is a journalist for Channel 10, reporting on news, weather and what’s on around Perth and WA.