SHOP NO MORE, SWAP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Despite the unpredictable weather, many came out to The  S.W.A.P Team‘s Take Off Your Clothes event held at Soho Bar and Grill on June 12. The non-profit organization originated in Montréal – one of Canada’s fashion capitals – and is known as North America’s biggest clothing swap.

For the city of Calgary, it is the third time around clothes are being swapped and every year, the event grows in size. This fact was evident as all three floors of the venue were filled with women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. It was estimated that a grand total of around 7, 000 articles of clothing were donated by the end of the day!

Necole Hines – director of the Calgary team and founder of local blog The Creative Mixx – says the event is about getting rid of the clothing in our closets.

“We are reducing over-consumption that we got going on in society right now,” says Hines about the swapping philosophy.

This time around The S.W.A.P Team partnered with Goodwill Industries of Alberta – a non-profit organization that accepts donations of all sorts for people with disabilities facing employment barriers.  All items left at the end of the day were donated to Goodwill .

Hines says one of the major benefits of a clothing swap is that “not only are you giving your clothing away knowing it is going to a good cause, but by coming to the event, you have the chance of finding a fabulous find”.

Several local designers and boutiques such as Hipband, Peeko Apparel, Ruby Ellen Designs, Vintage Pop-Up Shop along with Eleven Eleven contributed to the cause by donating brand new pieces of clothing or jewelry which were raffled off. Another local partner at the event was stylist Domingo Lumanog who assisted customers with finding the most flattering pieces.

A sense of style and looking sharp is not about buying the most expensive items but just keeping it simple. It is all about how one carries themselves in an outfit. And remember, as Hines says, “Giving can also be fun!”.

Words by Daniela Codreanu

Photo Courtesy of  Mirando Photo