Ditch n’ switch your clothes

Every closet needs a spring clean, isn’t that so? But what if our closets weren’t full to the brim with the season’s latest fashion trends so that we didn’t need to make room for new entries every few months? Fast fashion makes new trends alluring, encouraging consumers to buy more, more and more. Those into more sustainable fashion find other ways to freshen up their closet without breaking the bank or the industry. A clothes exchange event is coming up in May, once the lockdown ends, organised by local initiatives that promote slow, lasting fashion.

On May 23 at the Larnaca Cultural Foundation, Dostou Chance, MedOrganic – MindSpa, Motivw, Studio Aktarma, Lemoni Radio and the organisers behind the Redesign Fashion exhibition are coming together to host a clothes exchange event. Between 3pm and 8pm, the public can bring in the clothes they want to give in, in exchange for other second-hand clothes. Five items per person will be accepted and any extra pieces brought in will be regarded as donations. For each item of clothing, a token will be given which will act as a sort of currency to ‘buy’ other clothes.

Once there, the team will review the clothes’ condition on the spot and if the items are in good condition, every item will be awarded an exchange token according to their value. Values are 1 (white), 2 (blue) and 4 (black) and are given according to quality, brand and material. The tokens can then be used to ‘purchase’ clothes from a selection of donated items. The space will be divided into zones, according to the token colours so that they are easy to navigate. While the clothes exchange takes place, Lemoni Radio will be streaming music live and there will also be a clothes mending and fixing station turning the event into a clothes Ditch, Switch and fix event!

Ditch n’ Switch

Clothes exchange event organised by numerous local initiatives. May 23. Larnaca Cultural Foundation, Larnaca. 3pm-8pm. Free. Tel: 99-180549. Facebook event: Ditch n’ Switch Clothes Exchange