Going to a swishing part for the first time? Here’s Penny Golightly’s guide to some of the main formats.
Like-for-like swapshops
At these events you all keep your garments or accessories with you and look around to see what other people are offering. You then negotiate a swap with another guest who has an item you’d like, and if both of you think it’s a fair trade then the swap goes ahead. This type of swapping has the advantage of being able to take your time and discuss the item with its current owner, and hopefully each mutual swap leads to both parties being happy.
Mina will only go to events where like-for-like swaps are arranged between the guests: ‘I’m a member of my local Green Party and passionate about recycling, but at the same time I really want to get some nice clothes and a fair swap! This is best for me because you can have a really good look at something first so you aren’t making a snap decision, and you can ask questions.
» One of my favourite sites Swap-A-Rama Razzmatazz
Very organised drop-off events
These are usually swishing parties held by experienced organisers, and you are met by an attendant when you arrive. They take your clothes and accessories from you, check them, and put them out on display. You’re then allowed to browse around the displays and make a note of any items that you’d particularly like.
The organisers then bring the items to 
you, unless two or more people want the same thing, in which case names may be drawn out of a hat.
» Viviana of The Lean Times likes well-organised parties the best. She says ‘My favourite Swishing event is an Accessories Swish. I think that accessories in particular are great things to swish – no sizing considerations or need for changing room facilities. I also prefer a smaller Swish, recently I attended a very large Swish and it was like feeding time at the zoo.”
Drop-off free-for-alls
These are often called swishing parties too, and they’re a bit more frantic. You bring your swap items along with you, and an attendant grades them by number or by quality – you’re then told how many items you can take back from the swap. The staff or volunteers then hang everything up in a shopping area and all the guests are allowed into the swap at the same time. You have to get to things first and grab them, then take them to a ‘cashier’ who makes sure you have the right number of items.
If you want to take away more than you brought with you, some organisers will allow this but do expect to be charged some kind of fee. It’s also possible that you won’t like all of the stock on offer, and come home with less than you took in. Claire says she would only take: ‘things I knew I wouldn’t cry about if I never saw again…
“It’s like gambling – go in with what you’re prepared to lose,
and also be prepared to come out with nothing.”
For a beginners survival guide » Visit Penny Golightly’s REAL Swap Event Rules
Get the Make it and Mend it newsletter To keep up to date with what’s new on Make it and Mend it and to hear about special offers and competitions, sign up for our newsletter – you’ll also get our free Stain Guide book to download
Posted by Gail (unregistered) on March 25, 2010 at 4:18pm
I've only been to one swap, which in theory was 'organised' but it was a free for all as described above. The most disappointing aspect was the incomparable levels of quality - some people brought unworn high-end high street, others brought worn-out Primark. I think I'd prefer the like-for-like swaps in future (they're a great idea in principle!)