ERROR:
subscribe to style file blog via RSSswap ‘n’ shop
June 19, 2007 12:20 pm
Until recently in Britain, swap shopping—the ethical antidote to mortifying fashion mistakes—was an underground phenomenon confined to the back rooms of pubs. But last weekend, the swapping movement burst overground, thanks to a temporary shop set up by Visa and the recycling charity TRAID in the center of Knightsbridge. Clothes were donated by Mischa Barton, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole, Sadie Frost, Peaches Geldof, and Christopher Bailey of Burberry, as well as the legions of well-dressed Londoners who walked in and dropped off their unwanted Balenciagas, Pradas, and YSLs. Donations were valued and assigned points, which were then loaded onto a Visa swap card that could be used to buy clothes in the shop, which will be open for another two weeks. Enthusiasm and generosity of spirit ruled at the opening party, at which swappers danced to discs spun by designer DJ Henry Holland and eyed the merch on a mini-runway. Meanwhile, at the door, one overcome young volunteer turned away an older lady who was trying to give away a rare Pierre Cardin from the sixties. "Gosh," she whispered, "I can’t take that, it’s far too valuable. Go to Sotheby’s." Now that’s what we call ethical.
—Sarah Mower
Photo: Marcu Dawes
tags:
