On September 27, the Richmond Swap Squad organized a community clothing swap with an upcycling workshop attended by more than 75 participants. As a volunteer-led initiative, our mission is to encourage individuals to reshape their consumption habits and reduce the amount of textile waste going to the landfill. Through swapping and sharing resources, we see this event as an opportunity to foster connections and build resilience as a community.
While our team has hosted swaps before, receiving the grant this year meant we were able to rent a venue with a larger capacity and is central and accessible.
At the event, individuals were asked to bring items from their own closet to swap for pieces that are new to them. The pieces spanned from clothing to accessories and shoes, and included items for women, men and children. We also had volunteers lead an upcycling workshop, so participants can learn how to turn used t-shirts into crochet creations, such as baskets and coasters.
We promoted our event through Culture Days, Eventbrite and our Facebook Page, which helped to get the word out. However, since it was the first time we hosted a large event in a highly visible area, we weren’t sure what kind of interest and foot traffic we would get on the day of. Therefore, we made plans in advance to streamline the check-in process and optimize the event flow in the event that the venue reaches capacity. Fortunately, everything went smoothly on the day of!
Other than learning how to plan and ensure a safe and smooth experience for everyone, I also learned the importance of having a good team to lean on.
The volunteers were the heart and soul of this initiative. From setting up and arranging the items on the racks to checking in participants and cleaning up, they made the whole experience effortless and fun. Truly, this event was successful because of their support, enthusiasm and dedication to growing the sustainability movement in our community.
