One thing that the recession is doing -- aside from putting a cramp in our style both literally and figuratively -- is that it's forcing us to become a lot more creative in the way that we revamp our wardrobes. Now, instead of automatically heading out to the store in search of the latest runway trends, fashionistas are embracing the do it yourself battle cry. Transforming outdated pieces into outstanding and totally original repurposed statements is not just practical and easy on the wallet -- it's also fun, environmentally friendly and more popular than ever before. Whether you cull t-shirts, jeans or sweaters from your closet, there's always an original new way to give those materials new life -- one that will almost always turn heads far more effectively than if you were to simply buy a piece straight off of the rack.
Of course, not everyone is endowed with wickedly envious sewing skills (or a sewing machine for that matter), and even though it's not too challenging a skill to master, it's not always a crowd pleaser. Different strokes for different folks, right? Bearing that in mind, you can always support eco-fashion designers who think outside of the box, but be prepared to pay serious dinero for their hard work. If you lack the disposable income that might be necessary to acquire their fantastic pieces, then clothing swapping might be more up your alley. Thanks to the fabulous powers of the internet, there are quite a few online trading posts that enable the fashion weary to empty the ho-hum threads out of their closets, post a photo/description of each and then seal the deal with an enthusiastic taker who owns an article of clothing that you desire. It takes the neighborhood girlfriend closet swapping ritual to an entirely new global level.
You can become part of a swapping community where you are able to constantly peruse new-to-you items that are up for grabs (including vintage and designer shirts, dresses, shoes, bags and cosmetics) while also posting your own pieces that you officially want to break up with. One of the most successful in the bunch, SwapStyle, charges no fee for 24/7 access and as soon as a member has zeroed in on the object of their fashion affection, all they have to do is contact the owner to organize their swapping details. Rehash offers a similar concept, whereas Swango takes it in a slightly different but still notable direction by charging 99 cents for every piece in their database. While that is certainly better than what you would pay at a thrift store, why should you pay for clothing that you could effectively get for free via SwapStyle or Rehash? Swango sweetens their deal by donating a percentage of the revenue from each swapped clothing item to Dignity U Wear, a non-profit organization that offers brand new clothing to children in need.
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