Melbourne-based sustainable fashion collective The Clothing Exchange has a big plan; the group wants to help fashion-conscious Australians find great styles while also raising awareness of the environmental impact of the fashion industry. With the help of the next big thing online, PlanBig.com.au, The Clothing Exchange and Australian Red Cross will be hosting a series of simultaneous swapping events across Australia on 17 October.

National Swap Day will be a chance for fashionistas nation-wide to update their wardrobes while also helping to protect the environment by recycling their unwanted wares. The events will be hosted in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, with thread-lovers in regional areas also being encouraged to host their own swaps.

Kate Luckins, founder of the Clothing Exchange, said, "We have been holding swap events since 2004 and following the success of last year's first annual event we were inspired to make this year's even bigger and better.

"Over this time we have seen demand for recycled clothing increase dramatically as people begin to recognise the environmental, as well as economic, impact of continually shopping for new clothes on the high streets. Also, swappers love the idea of their used threads gaining a new life in someone else's wardrobe.

"It is estimated that the fashion industry produces around $1.7 billion worth of waste annually and so we are delighted to be helping people raise awareness of this issue and how they can make a positive impact on the environment."

The events will be held simultaneously at 6:30pm and swappers are encouraged to bring six garments or accessories to swap in return for six buttons. They can then peruse the clothes racks for clothes of their choice in exchange for these buttons. The Clothing Exchange has benefitted from the advice and support of PlanBig to help draw more swappers on the day.

PlanBig (www.planbig.com.au) is a website where anyone with a plan or an idea can access the resources and support to make their plan happen in the real world. PlanBig, an initiative of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, is the contemporary iteration of the bank's core approach, now drawing on the strengths of social networking to facilitate community outcomes.

Kate said: "Since posting our idea on PlanBig a growing number of people have been in touch to offer advice on how to raise awareness of the event and encourage more people to get involved.

"Raising awareness of an event can be a difficult task, but PlanBig has given us access to a community where we can connect with other like-minded people and receive the support necessary to take National Swap Day to a wider audience."

The event will be run in collaboration with several sustainable and ethical fashion organisations. Australian Red Cross are the headline sponsors who are "thrilled to be friends with National Swap Day, as Reduce, Re-use, Recycle is a mantra we live by. We love the work they do to reduce resource wastage while making the experience fun and stylish".

National Swap Day is a part of Oxfam's 3 Things campaign that encourages individuals to identify three way in which they can reduce their impact on the planet. Ethical Clothing Australia, an accreditation and labeling scheme for local textile, clothing and footwear industry to ensure Australian workers receive fair wages and decent conditions and Fitted for Work are also partners of this big day of swapping.

Venues confirmed so far include:

  • The BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne
  • Opera Australia Centre, The Joan Sutherland Studio, 480 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills
  • Tilley's Devine Café Gallery, Cnr Brigalow & Wattle Street, Lyneham, Canberra
  • Sling Lounge, 153 Boundary Street, West End, Brisbane

To confirm your spot for your local National Swap Day event or to request information about hosting your own event on 17 October, please visit www.clothingexchange.com.au

This article was first published on My Green Australia. My Green Australia is a resource of information about living green and healthier in Australia. We want to protect and cherish our country and preserve the natural beauty of Australia for many generations to come.