Sustainable living: Clothing swap shops

To be honest, I didn't know about many swap shops in Coventry when I started writing this article. I knew there are some second-hand shops, but never visited one.

A swap shop is a place where you can give your clothes in exchange for 'new' clothes from the store or just buy 'new' ones. There can also be other items to buy/exchange such as books, plants, or furniture. 

Swapping is a particularly smart concept because it helps in fighting climate change. Not throwing away so many clothes and buying fewer new clothes helps to lower CO2 emissions which largely influence our climate.

Other advantages of swap shops are that the clothes are usually easily affordable and quite unique compared to the other stores. There are also brand second hands which are pricier but pretty cool too. 

Don't be afraid of the quality! The goods are completely fine, otherwise, they wouldn't be on the offer. If anything happens, keep a receipt and you will be fine.  

There are online swap shops as well as local shops. In FarGo Village there are second-hand clothes sales from time to time. On November 12th and 13th there will be Vintage Vera in FarGo with brands such as Ralph Lauren, Adidas, and Levis. Just browse tons of clothes and pay only 20£ for a kilo.

British Heart Foundation is definitely worth a look too, they have a large variety of products: from clothes of all sizes to books, and toys. You will definitely find something. 



Personally, I prefer swap shops because they are climate-friendly, and there are more interesting pieces than in fast fashion stores. Sometimes those shops are from a charity, so I know I am supporting a good cause when shopping there such as curing cancer. They are a good place to have fun with friends and family and they don't cost you a fortune. What else do you need to hear, go exploring your local shops!

If you are either new to swapping or a long-term enthusiast, you should check out our event Swap Shop in the Cycle Works on the 25th of November. 

#sustainability