Imagine a huge room full of people grabbing shirts from displays, tearing them apart, and scrambling to be the first in line with their newly acquired garments. If you’re imagining a post-Holiday-sale-nightmare you’re wrong. The scramble was for old t-shirts, and the lines were forming in front of sewing machines. This was the scene at a recent “Swap-O-Rama-Rama” (SORR) meet in Santa Monica, CA where unwanted t-shirts got a second life. I had the pleasure of attending the SORR and would recommend that everyone try to go to one before the end of the year. But you may be asking: What is Swap-O-Rama-Rama? Is it going to hurt? What does it cost me? Is there food? Etc. Etc. To encourage your attendance and assuage your fears here is a quick guide to the Swap experience.
What is Swap-O-Rama-Rama? What does it cost me?
Swap-O-Rama-Rama works like this: participants bring a bag of clothes they no longer want or need to the venue, at some events there is a small entrance fee (at Santa Monica it was $5 with a bag of clothes, $10 without), the clothes are separated onto tables, attendees go through the available clothes on the tables and pick as many items as they want, then everyone travels into the main hall where artists are set up at stations to help alter the clothes.
Does it hurt?
No.
Who attends?
Everyone and I mean everyone – so gentlemen no excusing yourself from the event because “it’s girlie.” All types and ages are welcome. Many parents brought their children to the event in Santa Monica and the kids created beautiful pillows, t-shirts, toys and bags from the available shirts.
Who came up with this madness and why?
Swap-O-Rama-Rama is the brainchild of Wendy Tremayne who grew up in a Long Island community where, according to Wendy, “consumerism was rampant, like really really bad.” She was so disgusted by the excess she witnessed that she decided to live for one year without money. As she found new solutions for acquiring food, shelter, and clothing she realized that humanity had lost much of it’s “creativity, community, and knowledge” when it transitioned from creating it’s own goods to shopping for them. To help people rediscover their creativity she created the Swap. In 2005 she held her first event, which was attended by 500 people. The events are now attended by thousands of people and this year SORR will celebrate it’s 90th event with swaps held in Jerusalem, Paris, Panama City, and Istanbul.
Is it crowded and annoying?
Actually no. It’s really laid back. I used the analogy at the beginning of this article because it’s the same type of process, but the people aren’t pushy or annoying.
How does this benefit me?
You get rid of clothes you no longer want and will leave the event with custom made clothes or accessories.
How does this benefit the planet?
Reuse of clothing prevents dangerous chemicals from the textile industry seeping into our water, earth, and air. Fewer garments end up in landfills. Recreating old shirts instead of creating new ones saves energy.
Is there food?
Whole Foods sponsored the event in Santa Monica so healthy goodies were abundant free of charge.
Is this Wendy chic ever going to stop?
Wendy says, “I will feel I've succeeded when no one attends Swap-O-Rama-Rama's any longer because the practice of swapping and modifying textiles and clothing has become a way of life again. My measure of success will be the failure of the event.”
So there you have it. Find a Swap at Swap-O-Rama-Rama’s Web Page or plan your own event. I guarantee you will have a blast.
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