“Is this life? Why am I spending so much time, energy and money on stuff? Why do I put so much meaning to things that are temporary?”

This revelation, by former multimedia designer Jasmine Tuan, led to a brilliant new idea: the fashion swap. Enter Cloop, Singapore’s foremost preloved fashion swap platform!

Of course, fashion swaps are not unique to Singapore; but why did we take so long to jump onto the bandwagon?

There is no denying that fashion waste is one of the world’s most damaging sources of pollution. Having worked for a high-end fashion brand myself, I saw firsthand the tremendous amount of waste generated at the end of every ‘season’. Clothes, bags, shoes and accessories which had not been sold by the end of their retail cycle were cut up, burned, or simply discarded to fill up a landfill somewhere on the other side of the world. 

That’s not all - the fashion industry is specifically designed to keep you buying things you don’t need. You only have two feet, but shoe brands launch new ‘must have’ items every other month, from limited edition sports shoes to high heels specifically designed for weddings or special events, almost impossible to wear on a regular basis. Look into any first-world wardrobe and you will find far more clothes than any one person really needs. 

But we all want to look nice, and we all want to treat ourselves now and then, right? How can we do that without adding to the already untenable issue of fashion waste?

Well - swap ‘em!

You know you have clothes you no longer wear - maybe you hardly ever did wear them, because they weren’t your style, they didn’t fit right, or they’re now the wrong size. For someone else out there, however, what you don’t really want is perfect for them!

So pack them up, and bring them to The Great Singapore Swap, hosted at Crane Robertson Quay, on 30 & 31 July! Cloop will be there accepting your preloved, good condition items. Pay $35 to bring in up to 10 preloved wardrobe pieces, and choose another 10 to bring home! And don’t worry - there’s a LOT to choose from.

Clothes aren’t all we accumulate. Books - that’s right, there are plenty of us whose bookshelves are exploding. Face it - you think you’re going to read that 1980s fantasy series one more time, but you won’t. Donate it to someone who hasn’t yet experienced the wonders of the Death Gate Cycle or the Belgariad - and swap them out for something new! (And while you’re at it, may we recommend you pick a few local authors?)

You can also find home decor bargains. Crane doesn’t like to throw perfectly good things away, so if we unpack a delivery and find a slightly chipped mug, or a slightly scratched vase, we’d rather see if we can find it a home where being a little bit aged is still ok. 

It’s free to pop by for the Great Singapore Swap, so make some time and drop right in!

https://www.wearecrane.com/happenings/the-great-singapore-swap