Clothes Swap
2013 - Present
A clothing swap is a social sharing event wherein people come together to give away, and take clothes. The swaps are held in public locations and are free and open to all. Participants should bring any no-longer-used but still wearable clothing to give away, and can keep any clothing they find that they will use. These events are traditionally held in someone's home, and are most popular amongst groups of women. The concept for the Cincinnati Clothes Swap series is to take a private ritual and make it public, allowing people to develop a new way to engage with one another, share with each other, and be involved with a real, physical social network.
I believe our identities are stored in the objects we use and hold onto. By sharing or trading something with another, the meaning may change, but a new level of closeness can form between those engaged with the exchange. By exchanging clothes a personal connection can form between the person giving and person receiving. It is a tradition among men to exchange jerseys after a soccer match out of a sign of respect and celebration. Women often pass down dresses and accessories for future generations. After exchanging clothes, two people may have a deeper level of affection and friendship in the future.
