Swap parties are the latest in a line of chic, eco-friendly ideas on how to save money and shop without spending any money.
Cape Town’s Swap in the City, started by vintage clothing shop owners Lamese Abrahams and Tom Waterfield, is a recycling initiative which includes parties around shoes, bags, books, baby clothes and home décor.
According to a press release, the idea behind the parties is not only to provide a fun and relaxed environment for people to get together and swap but to educate about recycling fashion and letting someone else get use out of what we don’t use anymore.
After opening their vintage clothing shop, Old Street, with the aim of providing people with an affordable alternative to buying on their accounts in shops, Lamese and Tom have now branched out on a fashion and décor recycling campaign.
“Swap in the City is about getting into the mind-set of not wasting anymore. It’s about meeting new people, giving away what you don’t use or wear and of course having fun. We all know that there are items in our wardrobes that’s been sitting there for ages. So why not swap it for something else?
“Swapping is not a new concept but we want to bring it to more people and hopefully educate them on how to throw their very own swap parties. We’ll be throwing parties in the city a few times per month with each party having its own theme.
“We sell our vintage clothes to people all over South Africa and what we have been seeing is that people do not have a lot of disposable cash; that they are looking for bargains and wanting to be unique in how they are dressing. For us, swap parties were the next logical step,” explains Lamese.
The first party takes place on February 29 at Van Hunks restaurant in Kloof Street and will be themed around ladies clothing and accessories. The next party will be a book swap party and held on 14 March.
Tom says: “I’m from London and swap parties are the norm. I’ve found that people in South Africa are not used to the culture of buying second hand clothes and swapping as much as they are in the UK. It’s something we feel passionate about and something we know will make a difference and catch on.
Customers will also be encouraged to bring clothes along that will be donated to a swap imitative which is run in Dunoon, Table View.
* For more information contact Lamese Abrahams on 078 257 0355, email: [email protected].
* Van Hunk physical address: No.1 Upper Union Street, Corner of Kloof and Upper Union, Gardens, Cape Town.