You can update your entire wardrobe for the cost of $10, all while helping the environment at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus on September 29.
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The fourth annual Gong’s Great Clothes Swap has grown from a small gathering of 60 people at Balgownie Community Hall to more than 10,000 items being exchanged last year alone.
“What amazes me a lot … is how many of the things that still have tags on them come through,” organiser Shane Moon said.
“We did have a wedding dress one year, red knee-high sparkle boots (think Kinky Boots the show) were my last year’s favourite.
“We get genuine vintage all the way through to designer.”
The swap does not discriminate on age or sex with items suitable for men, women and the kids.
Ms Moon said fast fashion and people wanting to “keep up with the Joneses” meant large amounts of textiles ended up in landfill each year and this project was one way to stop that.
Three-quarters of Australians binned at least one clothing item in 2017, according to research by YouGov Omnibus.
The study published last December also found nearly 40 per cent of millennials had bought half of the clothing they own in the past 12 months.
“It’s just crazy how much stuff is out there that doesn’t need to be sitting in a big pile just deteriorating,” Ms Moon said.
She also loves the community aspect of people getting together and mingling over clothes.
People who drop-off their items to be swapped prior to the event at the end of the month can swap 35 shoes/clothes/bags.
Those who drop-off their items on the day can swap 25.
The cost is $10, with leftover clothing to be donated to Lifeline South Coast. Ms Moon said there were 20 wheelie bins full of leftovers.
The swap begins on Saturday September 29 at 12pm for those who have already dropped off their goods to swap, and 12:30pm for everyone else. The event finishes at 4pm.
There are drop off zones prior to the event in Thirroul, Woonona, Wollongong and Dapto.
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