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I’m not talking about the price printed on the swing tag. No siree! That’s just for starters. There are heaps of other hidden expenses (and don’t even get me started on the environmental costs). Are you using credit to purchase your dearly beloved? If you don’t pay off your card quick smart you’ll be slapped with an interest fee courtesy of your bank.

And remember, this is more than merely a financial transaction. You’re also trading your time and energy. Add up how many hours of work it takes for you to afford your foxy frock. It might not be an issue if you’re lucky enough to have a job you love, but if not….

Another way to figure out if your latest vestment is a wise investment, is to think about how often you’re going to wear it. Introducing the cost-per-wearing formula! Don’t worry, not too much scary maths… Just divide the cost of the garment (including any upkeep such as dry cleaning) by the total number of expected wearings. A $250 pair of jeans you wear 250 times is a bargain. A $250 frock you wear twice costs you $125 per wear. Ouch! You don’t need a degree in finance to know that that’s more dollars than sense!

The moral of the story then? Buy what you love and love what you buy. Love it to death! When you do that you get your money’s worth and reduce your fashion footprint. Ka-ching! Now that’s what I call a wise investment!

Join us on Monday 28 May at Tilley’s Cafe Lyneham.

Tickets $25

Check-in opens at 6pm sharp!

This is one not to be missed! Brunswick’s reputation for offbeat style will add a certain something to the swap and ensure you leave with a load of new treasures!

A handy reminder:
Mother’s Day is upon us too, so if you want to trade one of your no longer loved pieces for a pressie for ol’ mum in time for next weekend, make sure you come along! In fact, why not bring her along to the event – the perfect Mother/Daughter Saturday afternoon activity.

As Barkly Square embarks upon on a $17m refurbishment that will transform the centre into a hub for fresh food, Barkly Square makes way for the thriving local fashion scene, with a series of free and ticketed events over one fashion-packed three day event. With pop up shops, markets, workshops and exhibitions scheduled from Friday 4 May to Sunday 6 May, Brunswick will become home to some of Melbourne’s most creative and innovative fashion offerings.

The Clothing Exchange is taking centre stage at this event, with a swap on the Saturday afternoon.

This is one not to be missed! With Brunswick’s fashionable locals in the mix, there will be plenty of gorgeous garments just ripe for the swapping!

And no Melbourne event is complete without a pop up cafe! Barkly Square will welcome Dreux & Ghisallo, Melbourne’s own coffee espresso-tricycle. Serving up delicious brews and tasty treats, this coffee concept on wheels will keep us caffeinated all weekend.

Check in is from 3 until 3.30 pm so please ensure you arrive in plenty of time – we don’t want you to miss all the action!

If this is your first swap, please refer to our swapping guide on the website.

Surry Hills Library

405 Crown St, Surry Hills

12.00pm check-in for a 12.30pm swap

Bring up to six fashionable items or accessories that you value but no longer wear to swap for those you will

Tickets $25 online or at the door

Lucky door prizes!

We are delighted to promote a fantastic exhibition curated by Tullia Jack- Nobody was dirty at the NGV!

For all the details, check out the NGV website

“Involving familiar pieces of clothing that have been the subject of a natural but not so common process, the project sees these items artistically transmogrified into unlikely new forms.  The installation dramatically re-contextualises worn jeans to bring private smells into the public domain.

Nobody was Dirty is an extension of Jack’s research exploring everyday cleaning rituals.  Engaging thirty people to wear the same pair of jeans for three months without washing them, the project sought to understand more about what motivates people to wash; exploring and pushing social norms around cleanliness.  Laundry practices consume water and energy but are based, Jack thinks, not on scientific sanitation standards, but cultural constructs that self-enforce sterilised and germophobic mindsets.

The jeans are displayed as part of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program at NGV Studio where they will be engaging with the noses of visitors”.

NGV Studio is located at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square. Open Sun–Wed, 10am–5pm and Thu–Sat, 10am–10pm. Free entry.



By Cindy Durdan

What a wonderful surprise I had when I discovered the brand Honest By. and its philosophy about being 100% transparent.

And when they say transparent, they are not kidding. Of all the ethical brands (or so-called “ethical/eco”) I’ve seen Honest By. is the only one to be so specific and detailed.

On the website you can find out every component of a garment, which means each fabric, lining, sewing, thread, label, hangtag and even safety pin! Everything is detailed. Browsing the website, I chose one of the beautiful dresses and by clicking on the material section I learnt that the wool used to make the piece was from an Australian brand that I used to work for! How could I know that by simply buying it in a shop?!

There is also an explanation of what “recycled” or “Made in Europe” means, information about the certificates, and each piece is rated on different metrics: organics, skin friendly, recycled or/and vegan.

But this is not the end; another section details the manufacturing process, and on the top of that – the time required to make the garment and a section about the price calculation! This means you know exactly what the wholesale, retail and brand mark up are! A first time in the world of fashion as far as I know.

This brand has the courage to reveal every (yeah yeah I said EVERY) detail they are able to obtain from their suppliers and to share it with you. The consumer is able to better understand the process, the quality of the product and the resulting price – and  to make an informed purchasing decision. You can say that you exactly know how your garment was made! In this time of ethical  and overconsumption concern, what a nice thing to be able to know and tell the story of your gorgeous dress or wonderful coat?! Plus they offer you styling tips to guarantee you’ll get the most wear possible out of your purchase!

This brand is ethical in every part of its business; they also donate 20% of their annual profit to charity.  And they are going really far, not only having all the supply chain detailed and choosing the best material and production possible, they want to cover every step and reduce their carbon emissions. Indeed, another section allows you to learn about the carbon footprint of the transportation. Honest By. also plan to invest in a Life Cycle Analysis in the future.

You’re going to tell me, did you check the price of the garments?! It’s not the price we might be used to. But isn’t that point?! Isn’t it better to know the garment you’re going to buy, understand how it’s made and why it cost this price and make a conscious purchasing decision? To love the garment for what it is and what there is behind instead of having a lot of ‘loves’ that you’re leaving in the closet?! I’m going to tell you a secret, quality garments that last a life time aren’t made with low level quality cotton in a sweat shop. Quality garments don’t cost $10. I’m not saying I’m going to buy one of their pieces straight away, but this approach is worth spreading.

Of course, there is a shadow on this beautiful picture. Some of their suppliers didn’t wish to disclose particular information for confidentiality reasons. This is understandable, given the strong competition in the textile industry. Most brands prefer to charge the lower price and not the ethical price. But Honest By. manage to work with their suppliers in a trusting way, as an open source.

In my opinion, it’s with this kind of initiative that the fashion industry can become more and more ethical and sustainable. Information can be exchanged between brands, manufacturers and displayed to the consumers. The more information is accessible to the consumer, the more the demand for certified, organic, ethical products will grow and the more brands will develop these products.

No greenwashing for Honest By. And we thank them for that.

http://www.honestby.com/

We had a beautiful intimate swap, complete with Valentine’s Day Cupcakes, and there were some stunning frocks and plenty of fancy shoes up for grabs.

Quite a few happy first time swappers and a few seasoned campaigners scored some lovely treasures and were happy to show them off for the camera.

Our next Melbourne event is part of the LMFF Cultural Program. This event always draws Melbourne’s most fashionable ladies and must not be missed! Have a peek and get in quick! Buy tickets.