Roughly twice a year I attend the Vancouver Swap-o-rama-rama, a clothing swap meet held at many cities throughout North America.  The way it works is you bring a bag of your unwanted clothes and $5; these serve as your entrance fee. Once inside the hall, you see a bunch of clothes displayed on hangers or piled on top of tables. You sift through them, pick the ones you want, and take them home. Free clothes. What’s better than that?

The Swap-o-rama-rama can’t control what articles of clothing other people bring but as I understand it, there are volunteers who sort through the bags donated and make sure that there’s nothing inappropriate or too ratty that makes it to the hangers or tables. In my experience, people have been very good about donating decent items. I’ve picked up American Eagle shirts, Gap and Old Navy pants, Calvin Klein, Levis, Silver jeans, all in good shape. And once there was even an Armani Exchange Suit hanging on the rack waiting for someone to pick it up!

Clothing swaps are great if you’re not looking for anything in particular. There are no guarantees you’ll find that perfect sweater in turquoise or those trendy jeans all the kids are wearing nowadays but you can come home with a lot of cool vintage stuff or sometimes brand new, unused clothes.

Check if Swap-o-rama-rama is coming to your city: www.swaporamarama.org

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