Is it the January sales? No… but it looked that way at our first ever swop party at the Culture Club on 4^th February. What’s even more exciting is that no cash exchanged hands. You just needed some clothes and accessories you didn’t want, to swop with others.

Clothes were flying, necklaces were scooped up, handbags were taken, shoes were grabbed and above all, ladies were doing it for themselves the green and fashionable way.

While sipping wine and talking about the latest and greatest fashions, Hong Kongers and expats mingled to do some good and, more importantly, get some new stuff for their wardrobes… all profits were given to the Red Cross, and all left over clothes went to the Salvation Army. It felt VERY good…

People brought a vast array of gorgeous goods – handbags, jumpers, dresses, jeans, leather jackets, hats… we even had a pair of Marc Jacobs shoes.

Swopping is reuse at its best. Reusing clothes, rather than chucking them in the bin, vastly reduces the emissions associated with transporting waste to landfill, plus it cuts down on the mountains of waste we accumulate every year which rot the environment…

In the States, despite the economic downturn hitting people’s pockets hard, savings have increased – for the first time in history during a financial crisis. According to economists, this suggests that thrift is making a come back. But we are not talking about re-using those rusty nails or collecting jam jars, we are talking fashionable thrift. Making the most of a crisis, and loving it. That’s the mantra spreading across the US and could be a lesson for us all. We can love life, look great and feel amazing, without maxing our credit cards. We all need that shopping ‘high’, imagine getting it without the guilty feeling… you can when you swop.

Our next swop party will be taking place on 4 March 7pm onwards,

Join our Facebook group, Forever and Again Clothes and Accessories.  Check us out at http://www.greensundays.org.uk/hong-kong 

See you on March 4^th.   Remember to bring a big (reusable) bag!

Tell us your suggestions and comments here.

 queeneco.com SWOP party