Feminist, Fat, and Fabulous Blog: Positive Exchange

After hearing about the Exchange for Change program, my friends and I were intrigued at the idea of clothing swaps. I’d never been to one before, so I wasn’t quite sure what it involved. Most of the larger scale clothing swaps I’d heard of were full of small designer wares, and didn’t interest me in the slightest. What would be the point if nothing fit? I didn’t see the appeal in trying on and fighting for a scrap of clothing in a large room filled with half-naked women. I also felt that it wouldn’t be doing anything for my already fragile self esteem.

One friend has held one already. Her clothing swap was different from the large scale, frenzied operation. She set up rules.

Not just your run-of-the-mill rules, no. These were rules specifically pertaining to self- esteem and our bodies.

We were not allowed any negative body talk. It was an absolute no no. We weren’t allowed any negative clothing size talk. If any clothing or body talk started, it was to be completely neutral (‘This isn’t my size. That is my size’).

These were fabulous rules to set out from the get-go. It ended up being a fabulous day. It was great to participate in a body positive clothing swap, where the likelihood of me fitting into the vast majority of the clothing on display was very high. All the clothing had to be in decent condition and freshly laundered. There were sweets, champagne, and rooms to change in. Clothing left over was donated. We all left with new/old clothing and we all left happy.

So we’re gonna do it again. And I hope to find even more clothing this time around (including a promised vintage dress, oh yes). It’s free, body positive, and it’s fun. What more could I ask for?