Join fashion swap shop (From Gazette)

Join fashion swap shop

10:00pm Monday 14th June 2010 in

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ONE woman’s fashion faux pas is another woman’s dream find, which is one reason swishing is thriving across the globe.

Swishing parties, where participants donate fashion items to pick up pieces in exchange, originated in America and has grown in popularity since the recession hit.

The economic slowdown has forced people to be more resourceful with how much they spend and where they spend it, and with 1.2 million tonnes of clothes and shoes thrown away in the UK each year, the parties also mean at least some of our unwanted items do not go to waste.

Fashion-lover Victoria Carlin cottoned on to the idea of organising swishing parties last year. She used the event to help clear out her bulging wardrobe.

“I have an obsession with clothes, shoes and handbags and started to think how I could turn my hobby into something productive,” says Victoria, 30, who lives with her family in Hockley.

“I came across the idea of clothes swap parties in a magazine at the start of the recession, when everyone seemed to be jumping on the bandwagon of being money wise, and the idea stuck. I was on maternity leave last year and had a bit more time on my hands and decided to get some friends together and have some fun.”

She hosted her first party last October.

“It was a roaring success,” she says. “People were being ever so polite at first, as they didn’t really know what to do. But by home time, they were leaving with armfuls of clothes.

“To a clothes swap virgin, it seems a strange idea at first. People are restrained in what they bring along and nervous to look and try things on, but once you’vebeen to one, the bug is there. It is a British thing to be quite polite and reserved, but people do get into it – there was even a fight over a handbag once!”

Her next event in February was also a success.

“The ladies who came to the first swap were champing at the bit to get started and there was no holding back and being polite this time,” says the married mother-of-two Victoria’s next swishing event is at the Rochford Hundred Rugby Club on Friday, June 18 at 7.30pm.

There will be stalls including Avon, Libelle jewellery, cupcakes and tarot card readings.

“This is on a much bigger scale than my last two and has many more rules to keep order. However, with so many women coming to swap, there should be a lot of great clothes and accessories.”

For more information, visit vickilinton@yahoo.com