Bored of all the outfits in your wardrobe, but can’t really break the bank on something new? You might want to head down to Birmingham’s Selfridges at the end of June for an exclusive four-day swap shop. Bring down your old pieces and shop a curation of second-hand clothing, without spending a penny!
According to figures by Wrap, the average UK adult owns 118 items of clothing but hasn’t worn 26% of them in the last year. Hosted in partnership with one of the UK’s biggest circular fashion communities, LOANHOOD, this swap shop aims to prolong the lifespan of your clothing. Championing creativity and style over buying new.
Taking place June 22 to 25 at Selfridges’ Birmingham store, the event follows a hugely successful launch in Manchester. This will be a unique way to revive and refresh your wardrobes, while also reducing wasteful fashion consumption. After its appearance in the second city, Selfridges’ swap shop will move to the capital for its final sessions.
How will the Selfridges’ swap shop work?
Every customer can bring in up to five items of men’s and women’s clothing worth a resale value of £50-£300. These will then be valued, based on criteria of type, brand, condition etc., and exchanged for ‘stamps’. You will then be able to use the stamps to purchase new-to-you secondhand clothing from the swap shop.
The swap shops team of expert assistants can also help customers to style and exchange items. But they’ll also shine a light on the fun and desirability of shopping secondhand. Meanwhile, a resident Upcycler will be on-hand for bespoke customisations. To have your outfits seen to, tickets cost £5 per booking and include upcycling of one garment.
The swap shop is part of Selfridges’ Worn Again – a season of second-hand and circular shopping experiences at the department store. Worn Again calls for new ways to extend the life of unworn pieces that could significantly reduce the environmental cost. This is a free event, but you can guarantee entrance by heading here.