Warrior Agency and Buddy and Noo, are on a mission to slow down fast fashion, by hosting Southbourne’s first Swish It! clothes swap. Swishing is an easy, sustainable and affordable way to find clothes that are new to you. For just £5, attendees can donate clothes they no longer want and then peruse the rails for a new outfit to take home and show off. Swishing saves unwanted clothes from heading to landfill and reduces how many new items need to be made, reducing the environmental impact of a brand-new wardrobe to almost nothing. 

Alice Nichol, Founder of sustainable styling service, Buddy and Noo, commented: ‘I love fashion and I love clothes, but I don’t love fast fashion – it’s bad for the environment and following fleeting trends doesn’t actually help most of us with our style. I see it all the time in my work, people have wardrobes stuffed full of clothes and still feel they’ve nothing to wear.  

‘Swishing is a brilliant solution. It’s almost an antidote to fast fashion, where people can find things new to them and give their wardrobe a little love, without damaging the planet. I can’t wait to get stuck in on the day, helping people to find their new favourite outfit!’ 

Lizzie McManus, Founder of Warrior, the ethical PR agency focused on helping people doing good, commented: ‘Warrior has always been about connecting people with sustainable options, whether that’s brands or charities we’re working with, or local events taking place. One day somebody asked me if I knew of a local clothes swap and I couldn’t find one. Swish It! was born. I spoke to Alice, a long-time friend of Warrior, and I knew between the two of us, we could create something brilliant. 

‘One of the most exciting things about the event is how much people are supporting it! We’ve had lots of local businesses and people in the community want to get involved, from The Larder House agreeing to be our venue, to a local seamstress offering to repair and fit clothes at the event. It feels like people have been waiting for something like this to come along, and we’re just thrilled to be part of it.’ 

Joining the event too is local seamstress, Jeni Money-Mann. Jeni has over 12 years of experience in her craft and will be on hand at the event to advise on repairs and alterations, so any items that need a bit of care and attention can still find a new home.  

Swish It! isn’t just focusing on the environment, the team are keen to help people as well, with all profits and unswapped clothing being donated to local social enterprise, The Wardrobe Foundation. This Dorset-based organisation supports vulnerable women by donating gift bags of clothing to women who may need help due to financial difficulties, abusive relationships and many other reasons.  

Lizzie continued: “Sustainability isn’t the only issue with fast fashion, the industry has huge ethical issues as well. Often there are very poor conditions for workers, predominantly women. So, we wanted to try and use our event for good, by supporting The Wardrobe Foundation, who will make sure any unswapped clothes find homes with women who need them. Obviously, we want Swish It! to be a really fun afternoon - and we’re sure it will be! – but we also want it to do as much good as possible. Come along, have a drink, find a new outfit, and help people and the planet, what more could you want?”