swapping: part three. attend a public clothing exchange

for the last two years, i've had the honour of volunteering for the s.w.a.p. team, at their large, annual, public swap at montréal's place des arts. i've emceed for two years and this year i also hauled boxes, picked up hangers and placed clothing on racks (which makes looking fresh and well-kept at the mic a bit of a challenge but i think i managed okay...). 

i'm not going to elaborate on the organization itself too much, as it already has plenty of media coverage and i would like to side-step the possibility of getting any information wrong. let me just say that i love, love, love these events and that i have always found incredible things to take back home with me!

i strongly suggest that you look into who might be doing this in your town-- it may even be the s.w.a.p. team, as they have been growing bigger and bigger since their start, years ago. find a public clothing swap or get involved with organizing one or help out at one. you'll be diverting clothing from land fills, sending some to charity and you'll be avoiding mass-made clothing, which comes with all sorts of moral and environmental baggage. do eet!

look at some of the great stuff i scored, this year:

i have since reconsidered these insane red heels and they're in my box of stuff to swap with my friends, later this month. i wore the crap out of the studded flats and have yet to wear the other three pairs but am looking forward to it. 

i carried this little clutch around all summer. (the sunglasses were purchased on ebay and are vintage).

i've already posted a photo of this jacket (okay, so there is a whole post about it) but i love it so much and so here it is again. 

i acquired so many other great items, including a polo ralph lauren sweater, a great, distressed union jack purse and tons more. my daughter and i actually brought over one hundred items home, this year. that said, i still wish i'd reacted faster when i saw two mat and nat bags comes out and be placed on a table in front of me. i was so tired and was thinking of the next thing i had to do and someone i know scored them. it hurt for about a week, i tell you...

photo one- taken by ian woo and found on the swap team's web site
photo two- found on annex vintage's blog
other photos- taken by me

Posted in: clothing exchange,clothing swap,fashion,green shopping,montreal,place des arts,style,swap team