How to Host an Epic Kids Clothes Swapping Event

Simple. Through a kids' clothes swap event! Preloved kids’ clothes is the way forward!

Swapping kids’ clothes is the ultimate parenting hack and is increasing in popularity, where people come together and swap out their children's clothing they don't need for new ones they do need. Win, win!

By swapping children's clothes, busy parents can save time, manage the cost of living and score some high-quality garments whilst paving the way towards more sustainable living. But what's involved in a kid's clothes swap event, and how can you plan one? 

How to host a kids clothes swap event

1. Choose the location: Once you've decided to host the swap event, you'll need to decide on a location. While some people are comfortable hosting their events at home, others opt for a local hall, church, etc. The bigger the location is, the more room you'll have to display the clothes!

2. Market the event: Next decide on a date and start promoting your event. We recommend putting up flyers in your local area, advertising on parenting groups, etc. Get the word out! Get creative with Canva and create engaging ads that draw people to your event. 

3. Plan the details: Once you've set a date and location, it's time to think about the event, starting with telling people what they should bring. Think about requirements such as clothing quality, size/ age, gender, brands, and cut-off and off-limit items and the swapping rules. 

What happens during a clothing swap?

People then arrive with unwanted children's clothes, give them to you (the host) to display, and receive an allocated token to secure other items of clothing. While most kids' clothing swaps last a few hours, how long you'd like the event to last is up to you. 

While some people prefer to lay out clothing items on tables, others may want to use clothing racks or cubbies. Think about how ample your space is and the best way to ensure all items are displayed. 

Put some music on, greet people with a smile and have fun! 

What are the rules of a clothing swap?

It's important to have rules and restrictions to ensure your event runs smoothly. Here are some rules you may want to think about implementing: 

• Limit the number of items: By limiting the number of items people can bring, you can issue a reasonable number of tokens (1 token per item). This usually ends up with people donating high-quality pieces and makes sorting much simpler. 

• Ask for the clothes to be brought on hangers: Depending on your space, asking people to bring hangers will save you the time and headache of allocating hangers yourself. 

• List prohibited items: Kids' clothing can get a little messy! Ensure you detail items prohibited at the event to avoid any uncomfortable discussions. 

• Be strict on quality control: No one wants a vest with a big ol' poo stain on it. Be firm about the clothing quality you're prepared to accept. 

• Limit the amount of attendees: Clothing swaps attract lots of people. Which is great! But also stressful. To avoid a chaotic event, limit the number of attendees. 

And there you have it! To host a kids' clothes swap event, find a great location, secure a date, and lay out key rules and expectations, and you're good to go! Thrifty events such as a clothing swap for kids are a great way to bring local parents together while promoting the many benefits of a sharing economy. It also doesn't hurt to finally get rid of the mountains of clothing taking up space at the house. 

Think you're ready to swap kids' clothes? Enlist the help of Sassybae! Created by parents for parents to exchange clothes and toys, our mobile swapping app is the ultimate destination for supporting the circular economy and socially responsible parenting. Join our waitlist today to find out more!