Style Swap: Frequently Asked Questions

Hello Swapper

Here are the FAQs for the Style Swaps

Q Can I ask a question?

A Yes

Q Do you mind if I ask a question?

A No

Q Can I ask any question at all?

A You’re a grown assed woman and you can do whatever you want. Me too - so ask away!

Q Can I Takubin or send stuff to the venue ahead of time?

A No, but ask Sarah Furuya for options

Q Can I bring old clothes and rags and damaged things?

A This is a definite NO - when HM were collecting the clothes pre-COVID we were open to that but now we are only taking lovely clothes in great condition. Also I’d like to keep it classy - eventually having a flow of really great quality clothing.

Q Is there parking?

A No, but maybe depending on the venue, so ask Sarah Furuya

Q Do I need to bring my dresses on hangers?

A No, we will provide hangers - just ensure the garments look nice and are clean and smell good

Q How much do I have to bring and take?

A You can bring as much as you like and take as much as you like - you can dump and run, or do your season’s shopping - entirely up to you.

Q Really?

A Yes, really - you can pay, come with 3 empty suitcases - bring nothing, fill them then leave. What you do with the clothing after that is your business! AND you can bring 3 full suitcases, empty them and leave.

Q This is outside my current financial capabilities - can you help?

A YES YES YES Absolutely - just contact us using the contact form or through Messenger and I will either completely waver the cost or you can let me know what you can afford. You can attend as a fully paying attendee - please do not be ashamed - I have had people support me through financially difficult times and I want you to feel that we, the community can support you. This is community.

Q What sizes are there?

A There are all sizes but the vast majority of clothes are M-L. We have XXXXXXS to XXXXXXXL and will accept any sizes at all. Any.

Q I can’t access your Ticketing System and am having problems - can I ask to pay in cash?

A You absolutely can - you can ask whatever you like!

Q Can I have the discount code if I am not on your mailing list?

A Maybe but officially no - it is a thank you to my newsletter subscribers for allowing me into their inboxes. But please sign up to get the discount code. You can unsubscribe at any time. Or just delete my emails.

Q Can I bring kids?

A Yes you can! This is an adult event so it is adult time but we love seeing the kids taking lovely clothes for themselves, joining in and being in our unique community.

*I have some requests with the kids - please don’t bring messy activities for them like paints, nail-polish, permanent pens and keep them safe in the venue and the venue safe from them! If damage or mess occurs, please let Sarah know ASAP so she can deal with it.

Q Can I bring shoes

A Yes, they must be in absolutely pristine as-new condition; polished, cleaned, smelling fresh, not a hint or whiff of mould - take a look, should they be gomi

Q Can I bring bags?

A Yes - as with shoes, they should be in pristine condition - if they have done a couple of seasons in the back of a cupboard they will likely be musty - if after washing the lining and disinfecting and wiping the leather or vinyl they are still smelling like the worst junk shop in the shotengai - it’s probably a job for the gomi

Q Can I bring Jewelry

A Yes - please sterilise earrings and clean up the jewels before bringing!

Q Can I bring men’s clothes?

A Yes, again, in excellent condition but this is a women’s event because we tend to take off our clothing and I want it to be a safe space for that. Please let your keen men know that. You can bring kid boys and I’ll leave it to your discretion which age is best to stop that.

Q Can you donate the clothes to <Ukraine, Syria, Palestine, Tohoku, Women’s Shelter, homeless, latest news story>

A No - and Yes. I have sponsored women’s shelters in the past, but it turns out they are more in need of cash than clothing donations. When we give physical items it means that already under-paid and under-resourced NPO staff have to deal with logistics. Also there are other ways to support places like this that donating 2nd hand clothes. There are also dedicated organisations that are dealing in dressing women for success. It’s a tricky balance to make between wanting to get involved and do good work and understanding the mechanisms of the NPO world at all its different levels. That is why I choose the model I do.

If you KNOW of somewhere that is asking for clothing donations, and can facilitate this, with a concrete introduction and some preliminary logistics, please let me know.

Q What happens to the left over clothing?

A1 I take it to H&M for recycling

WHY WHY WHY? These fast fashion places are dreadful! I know, yet here we are in late-stage capitalism and I WANT a corporate entity to take a bit of the responsibility for the clothing. This is a way to keep it above ground (ie not in landfill) while having the corporation be responsible for the logistics of disposal. Fast fashion is hugely problematic - my undies are made in Bangladesh. But it also gives lower income consumers access to fashion that used to be only the preserve of the wealthy. It’s a tough call for a tiny little business like mine dealing with many kilograms of garments. But one thing I know for sure, I want high street fashion to have some responsibility for helping the Mega Style Swap take care of business.

If you have a genuine viable alternative (I have taken things to Wattman 2nd hand shop before but they do throw away items) then please let me know and how it will work and who I need to be in touch with and introduce me. (A genuine viable alternative means an introduction and some kind of preliminary research to let me know how to proceed).

Here is a link to H&M’s recycling program

And here is a link to one site that criticises said program

May your undies be woven, from locally-grown cotton, by a local artisan on a living wage. Swapaste.

A2 Sarah Greaves for Grama-Seva Yoyogi Area Support (find her - she has the most beautiful pink hair and will talk at the swap) selects some of the best items to redistribute to the people who live in and around Yoyogi Park. In February I will also give some of the proceeds to Sarah to taxi her hand-selected picks to their free shop. What we want is for people to have the most wonderful quality clothing for the clothing stall she runs. Sarah will let us know what her clients need.

HERE is the link to the AMAZON account they use where people can purchase new goods that they need for the people who live in the Park. YES YES we don’t love Amazon either but their delivery service is second to none in this Epoch. And for that we are incredibly grateful.