A successful community clothing swap event in the Hills Shire.

Clothing Swaps: A win for wardrobes and the planet.

In September, I had the pleasure of being invited by The Hills Shire Council to speak at their community Clothing Swap event, organised by Michelle Bird, Resource Recovery Education Officer.

The event brought together more than 50 enthusiastic locals eager to refresh their wardrobes by swapping pre-loved clothes for new favourites, while learning practical ways to care for their garments and reduce textile waste. I was thrilled to be part of such a meaningful initiative that reflects the mission of Second Life Upcycling.

A community united for clothing sustainability.

Before the event began, I joined Michelle and a team of wonderful volunteers to help sort and hang the donated clothes (including a few pieces from my own wardrobe!). The racks quickly filled with an impressive range of garments — men’s suits, shirts and jackets, women’s dresses, tops, skirts and blazers, plus shoes, handbags and accessories. Tables were piled high with jeans, jumpers, shorts and T-shirts. There truly was something for every size, style and taste.

At around 6:30pm, the crowd began to arrive, each attendee bringing bags of clothing to swap. For every item they brought, they received a button, which could be exchanged for the same number of “new-to-them” pieces. As I helped sort through the arrivals, I was impressed by the exceptional quality of the garments donated.

Sharing tips for a more sustainable wardrobe.

While the volunteers continued sorting and displaying clothes, I delivered my clothing sustainability presentation, sharing practical ways to keep clothes, shoes and handbags out of landfill.

The aim of my session was to show that sustainability isn’t about perfection — it’s about small, mindful changes that collectively make a big difference. Some of the key takeaways included:

• Caring for clothes properly: Wash in cold water, inside out, and in full loads to save energy and reduce microfibre shedding.
• Repairing and maintaining items: Sew on buttons, fix small tears, dye stained clothing, and re-hem rather than discard.
• Caring for leather goods: Clean and condition regularly to extend their lifespan.
• Refreshing tired garments: Try simple, no-sew alterations.
• Getting creative with upcycling: For those with a sewing machine, transform garments into something entirely new.

Inspiring partnerships: Save the Children & Soroptimist International

Also attending the event were representatives from Save the Children, who collected remaining clothes at the end of the night. These garments will be resold through their network of op shops across NSW, helping fund vital programs supporting children’s health, education and emergency relief in Australia and overseas.

Volunteers from the Hills District branch of Soroptimist International also played a key role, assisting with setup and ensuring the event ran smoothly. Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organisation dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through education, empowerment and advocacy — from local community projects to international initiatives.

At the end of my presentation, I invited Ian from Save the Children to share some valuable tips on preparing clothing donations so they have the best chance of being sold in op shops. A representative from Soroptimist International also spoke about their ongoing work supporting women locally, in rural NSW, and around the world.

Clothing swaps are a great initiative for community and the planet.

With the presentations complete, it was time for the real fun to begin — the clothing swap!

Attendees enthusiastically explored the racks and tables piled high with clothes, shoes, and accessories – the best treasure hunt ever! The room was alive with energy as people discovered hidden gems, exchanged styling advice, and offered warm encouragement to complete strangers trying on new looks.

I made myself available to chat with participants who needed advice on altering, mending, or upcycling pieces they had fallen in love with but that weren’t quite the right fit. Depending on their level of experience, I shared quick fixes, simple no-sew tricks, and creative upcycling ideas.

Many attendees were surprised to learn how easy it can be to breathe new life into old garments (with a little Second Life Upcycling know-how). These one-on-one conversations were one of the highlights of the night for me. I love sharing, in real time, how a “maybe” item could be transformed into a new favourite rather than discarded. It was a wonderful opportunity to show the true potential hidden in pre-loved clothing and how small skills can make a big impact in reducing textile waste.

Clothing swaps like this one are a simple yet powerful way to promote circular fashion and reduce our collective environmental footprint. They keep quality garments in circulation for longer, help people refresh their wardrobes sustainably, and offer the joy of discovering unique, pre-loved pieces.

Most importantly, they bring communities together.  Clothing swaps create connection, conversation, and shared purpose, reminding us that sustainability isn’t just about the clothes we wear; it’s about the choices we make, the creativity we share, and the positive impact we can create together.

A night of connection and purpose.

The evening wrapped up around 8pm, with Michelle, the volunteers and I packing up the leftover clothes for Save the Children. It was a fantastic event that demonstrated how collaboration between Council, community groups and sustainability advocates can drive real change.

A huge thank-you to The Hills Shire Council for their forward-thinking approach and continued support for sustainability education.  And, most importantly, to Michelle, whose hard work, passion and organisation ensured the night ran seamlessly from start to finish.

Together, we proved that fashion can be fun, functional and environmentally responsible… one clothing swap at a time.

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Need help planning a clothing swap? I can help!

A clothing swap is more than just trading garments. It is a powerful, hands-on way to reduce waste, refresh wardrobes, and spark meaningful conversations about sustainability.

With the average Australian buying 56 new garments every year, and over 300,000 tonnes of clothing ending up in landfill, swaps offer a simple and engaging solution. Staff or community members bring along pre-loved items they no longer wear and exchange them for something “new-to-them.” It’s an instant win for both people and the planet.

I work with businesses, councils, and community organisations to make clothing swap events seamless, enjoyable, and impactful. Whether you’d like me to take care of everything from start to finish, or collaborate with your team to shape the event, I ensure the process runs smoothly and successfully.

My goal is to make every event fun, engaging, and informative, leaving participants inspired by the positive change they’re making, proud of reducing clothing waste, and delighted by a refreshed wardrobe at no cost.

Why host a clothing swap

• Encourage staff or community members to rethink their relationship with fashion
• Reduce textile waste in a fun, interactive way
• Support company ESG and sustainability goals
• Foster connection and community through shared experiences

Clothing swap event planning services

Running a clothing swap can feel like a big task — but that’s where I come in. I can take care of the entire process or work alongside your team to make each stage seamless and enjoyable.

Collection: I’ll set up collection points and provide promotional materials to encourage participation. Staff bring in good-quality clothes they no longer wear, creating the foundation for a successful swap.

Sort and Display: I can help sort items into categories and create a “pop-up shop” layout that makes the experience fun, inclusive and easy to navigate.

Clothing Swap: On the day, I host or co-host the event, welcoming participants, explaining how it works, and ensuring everything runs smoothly and fairly.

Leftover Donations: To ensure nothing goes to waste, I coordinate or advise on donating leftover items responsibly to local charities or recycling partners.

By supporting your organisation every step of the way, I ensure your clothing swap is effortless to run and impactful for your sustainability goals.

Ensuring your clothing swap event is a success

I provide end-to-end support to ensure your event is enjoyable, inclusive and effective.

Event Planning & Logistics: From collection points to setup, I take care of the details so your team can focus on participation.

Promotion Materials: I supply ready-to-use posters, digital flyers and internal communication templates to build excitement and engagement.

On-the-Day Hosting: I facilitate the event, ensuring it flows smoothly and participants feel welcomed and informed.

Inspiring Talk or Workshop: Add an optional sustainability presentation to deepen engagement and share practical, everyday actions for reducing clothing waste.

Optional Extras: Include styling tips, live upcycling demos or fun sustainability challenges to inspire long-term change.

Event format options

• Lunchtime swap: Quick, engaging, and perfect for busy workplaces
• Half-day clothing swap with sustainability talk: More in-depth, with time for workshops and interaction
• Bi-annually seasonal swaps – Held at the onsite of Winter and Summer, these give people the chance to refresh their wardrobe for the season ahead while clearing garments they no longer need.

More information

A clothing swap is more than a one-off event . It starts meaningful conversations, builds community, and inspires staff to make more sustainable choices long after the day is over. Importantly, it keeps clothes out of landfill and in a circular economy.

Based in Sydney, I travel throughout the Metropolitan area, NSW, and can travel interstate, if required.

Bex Mitchell 
0418 118 401
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