Swap-O-Rama-Rama 2011

Credit: Jackie Dives

Swap-O-Rama_Rama 2010 at the Museum of Vancouver

Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a clothing swap in which a community explores reuse and creativity through the recycling of used clothing

The core of the swap is the gigantic pile of free clothing sorted into categories such as pants, skirts, shirts, shoes etc. These piles are the collective total of each guest’s contribution of any size bag of unwanted clothes, so start cleaning your closets! Take as little or as much as you like! All remainders will go to local charities.

A series of DIY stations will be on-hand to help unleash your creativity through the recycling of used clothing, including screen printing by Blim and sewing stations by Spool of Thread. After you have chosen your new clothes you can explore one of the sewing stations or get a design screen printed onto a perfectly fitting, but plain t-shirt.

Learn to make modifications or totally transform your finds. All the materials you need to sew, embroider, alter, repair, etc, are supplied.

Lisa Brideau, pictured above in her favourite find from last year’s SORR, has been attending the event since 2008. About SORR she says, “You bring in all the clothes languishing in your closet, the unloved stuff that’s taking up space, they find new homes with people who love them, and you go home with a new wardrobe! I just love it!”

Swap-O-Rama-Rama was born in New York, when artist Wendy Tremayne saw the power of small-scale clothing swaps among friends and decided to extend it to the community level.

These community-based, environmentally-friendly and fun events were instant hits, and have since been embraced throughout the U.S.

Vancouver textile artist Heather Cameron and the Work Less Party collaborated in September 2006-2008 to first bring the event to Vancouver.

$6.00 at the door plus a bag of clean clothes to swap and leave with all the clothes that you can carry!

What to bring to Swap-O-Rama-Rama?

Clean, gently-used clothing and accessories: jackets, pants, shirts, skirts, shoes, gloves, belts, jewelry, sunglasses, bags, wallets and hats. Children and men’s clothing are welcome.

What not to bring to Swap-O-Rama-Rama

Books, makeup, home décor, furniture, lingerie/underwear, dirty clothing or anything that you cannot wear. Also, this year we are NOT accepting craft supplies.

New this year

Myriam LeRoche, president of Eco Fashion Week, will be leading an idea jam and Q&A about what it means to be eco fashion-friendly, and discussing how we can make a change in our buying habits to balance the negative effects of the fashion industry.

Volunteer

1. Sorters—sorting the clothing that is dropped off. It can be fast-paced in the sorting room, but lots of fun too! Available shifts are 10:30am to 1:30pm or 1:30pm to 4:30pm

2. DIY Sewing Station Helper—people with sewing skills are needed in the sewing room to help people revamp their clothing finds. Helpers are not expected to alter clothing for people (unless you really want to, then go for it!), just to give advice, help with technical problems and encourage people to let their creativity loose. Available shifts are 10:30am to 1:30pm or 1:30pm to 4:30pm

If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Lisa at swapvancouver@gmail.com with a little information about yourself and your preferred shift.