Hosting a clothing swap party is a fun, budget-friendly way to refresh your wardrobe – or your child’s! It can also be the perfect activity for your next homeschool mom meeting, with or without the kids. Here’s how to host a clothing swap party, a checklist for prepping for it, and a helpful kit to download for free.
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Why should you host a a clothing swap party
Whether you host a clothing swap party for your kids or yourself, there are so many benefits.
Kids outgrow clothes so quickly, and rather than letting barely-worn outfits pile up, why not swap them with other families? A clothing swap not only saves money but also teaches children about sustainability, sharing, and how to live frugally.
A mom’s clothing swap party is the perfect way to refresh your wardrobe without spending a dime—all while enjoying a fun and social gathering with fellow moms! Between body changes, evolving styles, and the never-ending cycle of “nothing to wear,” a swap party offers a guilt-free way to declutter and discover new pieces.
And a clothing swap party could be a nice change from the homeschool topics that are never-ending when homeschool moms get together.
(Pssst… my other favorite way to get free clothes is with Stitch Fix!)
How to Plan a Clothing Swap Party
Choose a date and time for your swap party. If it involves the kids, you can do this during a homeschool co-op time during a weekday. Or, if you want to enjoy an evening out with like-minded moms, pick an evening when dad can watch the kids. Next, set a location, whether it’s someone’s home or a community center or outdoor space so no one has to clean their house for guests.
Set the Rules for the Clothing Swap Party
Everyone should know what to expect before the swap.
Items should be clean, gently worn, and in good donation. Decide if you’ll include accessories, shoes, and jewelry, or just stick to clothing. Is this a party that includes kids’ clothing or just for the moms?
Swap Systems Options
There are multiple ways you could run your clothing swap party.
With a Ticket System, guests earn one ticket per item they bring and then use it to “buy” new items. This ensures that everything is equally distributed based on your participation.
The Free-For-All System works well if you just want to get rid of stuff, but don’t really care if it’s evenly distributed. With this system, after the initial set-up, everyone browses and takes what they like.
With Round-Robin, your guests take turns picking an item. It would run similar to a gift exchange where you go around the room and let everyone choose an item until they’re all taken.
Prepare the Space
Again, there are various ways to set up and prepare your space. Here are ideas to consider.
You could prepare Sorting Stations. Use tables or racks to categorize clothing into types, like dresses, tops, or pants. If you’re hosting a kids’ clothing swap, here’s where you can divide into boys clothing and girls clothing, and then further sort it into sizes. You may want to prepare signs for these categories to make the swap more successful.
Consider including a full-length mirror and a small changing area, especially if this is a mom clothing swap. This will help guests decide if they really do want that dress or not!
Provide bags for guests or ask attendees to bring their own.
Make it Fun
Of course, including light refreshments, music and decor is a great way to make your swap more fun. Be sure to download our free Clothing Swap Party Kit, which includes signage and other decor for your event.
How can you handle clothing swap leftovers
Try to use a system where nearly everything is taken. But, if you do have unclaimed items, arrange to donate leftover items to a local charity or thrift store. And you can encourage future swaps by making a this a seasonal event to keep the fun going!
Clothing Swap Party Checklist
Our Clothing Swap Party Kit includes a helpful checklist to keep you organized. Download it for FREE below.
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