UCL Swap Shop fights fast fashion

Inside a free shop in Freiburg, Germany, Tillwe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Swap Shops, or ‘Free Shops,’ are popular ways to acquire new clothes in a sustainable way.

As part of their ‘28 Days of Sustainability’ programme, Sustainable UCL hosted a clothing Swap Shop this week. The event took place on Tuesday in the Student Centre and was hugely popular. Students and staff came together to drop off their unwanted clothes in return for something new. 

From hoodies to prom dresses, the tables were covered with every wardrobe item imaginable. The trading process was simple: bring as many donations as possible, receive a loyalty card with this number recorded, choose anything from the selection. The shop was free for all to use. 

Sustainable UCL, the team working to improve sustainability across campus, ran the Swap Shop as part of their ‘The Loop’ campaign and collaborated with the University of London. Focusing on the problems of consumption, The Loop aims to reduce waste by guiding students on their purchasing habits. The Swap Shop initiative is therefore working to combat the rapidly growing trend of fast fashion. 

Textile production releases approximately 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year – a figure greater than that of international flights and maritime shipping combined. Throw-away culture encouraged by short-lived trends means many of these textiles end up in landfills. The crisis is also humanitarian, with a survey reporting that 93% of popular clothing brands pay their garment workers below living wage to work in unsafe conditions. The fashion industry is one of the most harmful to the planet and people, yet it is rare that this information is readily available to consumers. 

However, the interest in pre-loved fashion is growing, as ThredUp reports a third of apparel items are now bought second-hand in the US. Swap Shops are a popular option when on a budget, combining retail therapy and wardrobe clean-up in one. They take place online, in-person, and even in renowned shopping destinations such as Selfridges. 

The UCL Swap Shop has been established for several years now and is currently run by Kate, the University of London Sustainability Communications and Engagement Officer. ‘To be honest, I don’t think new clothing can ever really be sustainable,’ Kate says, adding: ‘Avoiding fast fashion actually allows you to be more creative in crafting your own unique style.’ For Kate, sustainable shopping should not be considered a disadvantage, and the Swap Shop is a great space for like-minded students to come together. She explains, ‘Everyone attending is happy – be it because they know they’ve found a piece of clothing they love, saved money, or done something good for the environment!’

Kate also shares some advice for students who love fashion but want to make their shopping more ethical. She suggests starting with a wardrobe audit: ‘To work off the embodied carbon emissions from your clothes, you should roughly wear an item at least 30 times. If clothes are gathering dust, think about how you can start fashioning it again or donate it.’  When you finally need new clothes, the possibilities for finding them pre-loved are endless in London. Kate’s recommendations include Brick Lane vintage markets and charity shops, such as Traid.

The next UCL Swap Shop takes place on Friday 26th April. This is the final event of this academic year, but Sustainable UCL plans to reintroduce the shop monthly starting in September. To keep up to date with the future Swap Shops, follow @SustainableUCL on Instagram or sign up for their monthly newsletter.