Clothing Swaps Are Out, and Clothing Auctions Are In.

I have wanted to host a clothing swap for the last three years. I told my friends I was FINALLY going to do it in January of this year.

They excitedly cleaned out their closets and then waited as I hemmed and hawed over the logistics of hosting a swap in a small space, with a single clothing rack, and small group…

They continuously text me over the course of the last six months wanting to know when they could finally get their unwanted clothes out of their living space - while I continued to drag my feet and process the problems.

Because my living space is relatively small and sectioned off (old home vibes), all of the clothes couldn’t be displayed in one room. Meaning the clothes would need to be spread across the kitchen, dining room, and the living area. And without clothing racks and extra tables the displays would have to be… creative.

Most likely things would be in giant piles. Which I think makes the clothes look less appealing and an added layer of difficulty when it comes to navigating size, material, plus the general chaos of multiple people looking through things with little to no organization.

Another approach to this problem would be to organize via size vs per person, so each room would hold a different size clothing, but everyone would have to separate the items they brought to get everything in the right room. Which would also be chaos.

By the time that was all said and done it felt like there would be a disproportionate amount of effort / time in set up vs. actually enjoying the swap.

None of these sound like an enjoyable or effective party! (besides if there’s clothes all over the kitchen - WHERE ARE THE SNACKS!? These are the important questions)

Clothing swaps are usually much larger affairs organized by a few people with things like a large space, clothing racks, tables etc. So when you go in, it FEELS more like a traditional shopping experience.

You also, normally, get a ticket for every item you bring to the swap. So, if you bring 10 items you get 10 tickets to buy 10 new to you items. But, with a more intimate group the traditional logistics just don’t work.

So, what if it weren’t a swap at all… but rather… an auction?

I set up a podium, (entirely optional and only there for an extreme commitment to the bit) where every one would lift their item, say what size it was and be available for any questions such as fabric composition, where it was from, any anecdotal knowledge they wanted to share.

Then I made paddles (also completely superfluous because we all just wound up raising our hands) to bid on said items.

If anyone wanted the same item, they’d both try it on in between each person’s set. If both people STILL wanted it after trying it on - you could choose between a battle of chance (coin flip) or a battle of skill (rock, paper, scissors) although, sadly, no battles were ever waged.

The dress code was ‘underdress’. Essentially wear something you can try clothes on OVER to keep the try one process speedy. I wore my cute exercise onsie and it worked a charm!

Everyone brought in about 30ish pieces and walked away without about 8 new items for their closet. We bagged all the leftover pieces at the end of the night, and dropped them at a donation center.

1. The hottest commodity of the night was a cowboy dress. (pictured above)

2. The most tried on item of the night was white maxi skirt I’m currently wearing while writing this newsletter.

3. The most show stopping number of the night was not one but TWO fully sequined jumpsuits I took since I’m costuming Mamma Mia this fall.

Now, if you read my post from last week, about the zero waste to hoarding pipeline, you know that I struggle to let things go… I brought about 8 things to the swap and took about 15 BUT a good portion of it was for costuming.

I also forgot to take my clothes that weren’t selected out of the donate pile so I have gotten rid of some stuff. Yay me. And, maybe, just maybe I’m turning over a new leaf in letting things go.

Even though I’ll probably be haunted by those Ettica jeans I forgot to grab out of the pile.

Featured Posts:
Here are some relevant posts from the blog this week! goingzerowaste.com

📌 Make Your New-to-You Clothes Last
Finding something great at a clothing swap is only the beginning! These simple clothing-care tips will help your new treasures stay in your closet longer from washing less and skipping the dryer to making small repairs before they become big ones.

📌 What to Do With the Clothes
We donated everything left at the end of our auction, but your local thrift store isn’t the only option. This guide breaks down where you can swap, donate, repurpose, or recycle clothing based on its condition and who could actually use it.

📌 Where to Sell the Pieces That Are Still Worth Something
Not ready to add a valuable piece to the donation pile? Here are several places to resell your clothes online so they can find a new closet, and you can potentially make back a little money in the process.

🎥 highlighted video of the week:

In this video, I’m breaking down eight purchases that almost always lead to regret, from cheap replacements and trend-driven buys to specialty food, high-maintenance items, and clothes for a life you do not actually have. Watch before your next impulse purchase.

Whether you support this work by being a paid member, sharing, liking, or simply reading - I am so thankful you’re here. ❤️

Sincerely,
Kathryn
Going Zero Waste