Scroll down for 15 free Thread Swap credits.
Swapping is the new shopping—a fresh wardrobe for nix. Thread Swap has an enviable array up for grabs to anyone wanting to offload unused duds. It’s free to join: just snap it, upload it, describe it and swap it in exchange for credits to spend on the site.
Thread Swap has a pool of 2,000 users with about 100 garments going online each week. Co-founder Elsie Rowcliffe talks us through it…
What kind of gear is up for grabs?
The most popular items are usually designer wear. People love a trusted label. Usually a good designer’s fashion is timeless. We get a lot of Sass and Bide, Nudie jeans, Cheap Monday, Topshop, Dr Denim and Zimmermann, for example. These items are so well tailored and made the quality doesn’t deteriorate as much as a high street brand.
Thread Swap also has a close relationship with a bunch of fashion houses who donate samples and unused stock. These are “never been worn, tags still on”, often unique items, so they are popular. You could be wearing brand new Current Elliot jeans worth $400 without spending a cent. Having said that, these kind of items never stay up for long, so you have to get in quick to nab them.
Best not to offload any old crap, then?
People need to assess if an item is still desirable. It’s is not about getting rid of old rags. Thread Swap is more a forum for exchanging great fashion items. We all go through fads and phases, this is just a way of making disposable fashion trends accessable to a wider audience, without the price tag.
If an item is old and tatty, it is unlikely to get taken therefore you’re unlikely to earn credits to spend. The incentive to put up quality, cool clothing is obvious because only decent threads will be taken.
Can swapping replace swapping?
Swapping is becoming more and more popular. We’re noticing a huge peak in physical swapping events all over Australia. And I think the amount of markets and vintage clothing stores is reflective of the demand for pre-loved, original clothing. High street fashion stores with cloned styles and poor quality are no longer satisfying.
Certainly swapping seems like a natural solution for individual dressers who want to redefine predetermined style. There’s no reason why swapping shouldn’t replace shopping. Thread Swap could provide the easy “big sister” style solution to consumerism—a world where you no longer envy your peers’ outfit… because tomorrow, it could be yours!
Register with Thread Swap and enter promotional tsw15 to score $15 worth of credit to spend right away. $15 goes a long way in the swap world.
Plus, October is the Salvos’ Buy Nothing New Month… take the challenge here.
