Each year, a staggering 92 million tons of solid waste is produced due to the fashion industry using 98 million tons of natural resources. With many retailers looking to reduce their carbon footprint, reusing clothes has become highly popular. One provider changing the game is Swapology, New Zealand’s first sustainable online clothes swapping platform.
Launched this week, Swapology invites Kiwi women who want to reduce their impact on the environment and their wallet, to swap items from their existing wardrobes for new-to-you clothing. Fielding-based founder Alice Wills-Johnson says guilt was the motivator behind her business as she didn’t want to waste clothing anymore.
“I wanted a new way to update my wardrobe and feel good about my purchases, a way to ensure the quality clothes that I no longer wanted could get a new lease of life in someone else’s wardrobe while also allowing me to buy ‘new-to-me’ clothing.”
Running on a point system, Swapology gives users more points, the more items they send in. Membership options include an annual membership fee, quarterly or monthly. After only being active for one day, the platform already has 300+ pieces available for swapping.
“We accept all brands, sizes, and styles, as long as the clothing is in quality condition. We want to ensure there’s something for everyone,” says Wills-Johnson.
“Swapology isn’t a usual online store therefore we do rely on people sending in their clothing and stock depends on our swapologists. As we expand, the range will expand too,” she says.
Every item of clothing is worth points, not cash. You can send in your clothing, earn points and either spend them or bank these points to spend when the perfect new-to-you item arrives in Swapology’s wardrobe.
“Clothes are cheaper than ever, but there are more environmentally conscious ways to be stylish without a shopping splurge. I stopped buying new clothes last year, increasingly worried by the impact of cheap fashion – not only on our planet, but my wallet, time, the next generation and beyond.”
Find out more at swapology.co.nz.
This article was originally published on theregister.co.nz and is reproduced with permission.
