MLK Day of Service

In honor of MLK Day, How Green is Your Closet? sponsored a clothing swap to benefit the women of Project Rainbow, a half-way house for women and their children in Philadelphia. The event was broadcast live on Nexusradio and included interviews with Jen Bowles, a represenatative of Project Rainbow, Nakita aka Betty Boo, a resident of Project Rainbow and Valerie Keller, the hostess of the first clothing swap my group of friends had in 1988. Valerie has written about clothing swaps in great detail in her blog on BigTeaParty.com.

Clothes swaps are excellent ways for people to Restore, Refresh, Recycle and Renew. When Valerie started the swap in 1988 many of our circle of friends had great vintage dresses and similar taste. The swap was a way to refresh your collection since money was tight. It also allowed women of all different shapes and sizes to see that many body types can look good in many styles. Valerie hoped many of us would overcome negative body perceptions through the exercise.

Over the years, we have continued the swaps. It is less about the money and more about recycling and giving. About four times a year we gather at someone's home with snacks and beverages. We all dump our offerings in a great big pile and then the fun begins. Pile diving ensues. Items are taken to try, some are held up for all to see. There is a mad fashion show with people putting on items over clothing or stripping to try on. When the frenzy ends we pack up the rest of the clothes and donate them to various charities - women's shelters, Thrift shops with a cause, etc.

Clothes swap give rise to priceless moments. At the last swap there was a classic Adrienne Vitadini knit dress. The style looked like it would work on everyone. 8 of us tried it on and it looked okay, nothing special. When the 9th woman tried it on that the dress found its new owner. All conversation stopped and all eyes turned to the vision in that dress.

Last night marks another twist in the evolution of the swap. Donors and recipients attended the swap and the women from Project Rainbow joined in, picking clothes and accessories for them and their children. Donors followed suit. Items that were not selected were taken to Project Rainbow for the other women and their Thrift shop. The event was broadcast live and participants were invited to share their thoughts. It was nice to meet the women we were helping and this may be a new twist we can do at least once a year.

So get out there and organize a swap. You will benefit from the purge, you'll witness a free fashion show and you'll refresh your wardrobe without any environmental or economic impact.

--till next week, Restore, Refresh, Recycle and Renew.