GUEST POST: Alexia Parks

Swap not Shop

Re:So is a unique store filled with eclectic products and run by Solent University students. All the items sold here are also designed and made by Solent students and graduates, with the exception of their range of vintage clothing which would be any second hand lover’s dream. Re:So is also under the Retail Solent Initiative which allows students to gain valuable hands-on experience as part of their work based learning element of many courses. Providing roles such as social media co-ordinator, graphic designer, sales and merchandise team, visual merchandiser and sales and operation manager, so there is a multitude of beneficial roles to take part in.

Re:So also provides a fantastic venue for events, one of which was held last Wednesday by Lauren Grist to which she organised a clothes swap event! Keep reading for more information and a reflection of this event written by Alexia Parks to find out how it went.

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Is swapping the way forward?

Fast fashion is continuing to make a negative impact on our planet. After oil, the clothing and textile industry stands as the largest polluter in the world. The use of cheap and toxic textile dyes and materials, to get garments from catwalk to high street as quickly as possible, comes with great consequences.

Solent University student, Lauren Grist (22), decided to do something about it. The MA Creative Direction student came up with an event, centred around sustainability as a part of an assignment. SWAP NOT SHOP is the event that allows you to update your wardrobe without causing any harm to the planet.

How does it work?

If you missed the SWAP NOT SHOP event held at Re:So, here’s what happened and how it works. On Wednesday 26th February, hopeful shoppers arrived with bags of clothes and accessories, to find something they could exchange these items for. Upon arrival their unwanted items were passed over, where they were given a number of tokens which they could use to purchase something from the swap shop i.e. 1 token = 1 item of clothing or accessory.

Everyone and anyone was welcome to the event, and those that didn’t have anything to get rid of were just asked to make a small donation to a charity very close to Lauren’s heart, The Brain Tumour Charity.

I managed to sit down with some of the attendees and find out their reasons behind coming to the SWAP NOT SHOP event. Speaking to a student, they explained “along with the huge environmental factor, financial concerns play a role in where I shop”. The same student continued to explain that they’ll often shop in charity shops and avoid high street shops that play a key role in polluting the planet.

Speaking to several others, the general overview was that those in attendance were very conscious of the negative effect fast fashion is having on the world we live in and like Lauren, wanted to do something about it.

Having advertised the event through social media and around the university, the large amount of donations (clothing) from the public meant shoppers had an array of items to choose from during their visit. Amongst the items on offer were mens and womens clothing, designer and high street brands and even untagged items that were yet to be worn. Snapped up quick was a Michael Kors bag, mens Nike jacket and a womens tweed two-piece.

Anything that wasn’t taken by the end of the event was donated to local charity shop, the British Heart Foundation.

Money was raised and shoppers were satisfied with their new items and all guilt free! Did we just find the alternative to shopping through swapping?

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We want to say a huge thank you to Alexia for our first guest post on Generation XX. Look out for our next upcoming project with Alexia very soon! Also congratulations to Lauren for putting on such a successful event, we wish you the best of luck in the future.

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On Wednesday 25th March, we will be hosting our own networking event at Re:So, a chance to meet and collaborate with the future experts of the fashion industry. For more details, stay updated with our Instagram @sgfs20 !

Credit to Loren Parkhurst for footer graphic.