The Clothes Swap Co-op

The Clothes Swap Co-op is a community-run circular fashion initiative based in the West of Ireland that keeps clothing in local use, reduces textile waste, and brings people together through swap events and clothing repair & upcycling workshops. Instead of buying new, we host fun, accessible clothing swaps where people of all ages can refresh their wardrobe. We’re starting small, but have ambitions to scale our model across the country.

Fast fashion (the rapid production of cheap clothing to chase ever‑changing trends) is a major driver of global waste and pollution. There are already enough clothes on the planet to dress the next six generations (British Fashion Council). The fashion sector is also responsible for approx. 10% of global carbon emissions + 20% of global wastewater, making it one of the most environmentally damaging industries in the world.

In Ireland, 95% of clothes donated to clothing banks are exported, and 60% of those leave the EU. Despite good intentions, only 26% of items donated to bring‑banks or store take‑back schemes are actually recycled (VOICE Ireland). Most of the clothing ends up in landfills or overseas markets already overwhelmed with textile waste.

Our clothes swap and repair events keep clothing in local circulation, valuing each item for the resources, energy, and labour that went into making it. By encouraging people to swap what they no longer wear (instead of sending it to donation bins) and repair their damaged clothes (instead of dumping them) we reduce the environmental footprint of our wardrobes and build a stronger culture of reuse & repair.

Our pop-up swap shops offer a welcoming space where community members of all ages and backgrounds can gather, chat, browse, and discover the benefits of secondhand fashion & swapping, and the joy of seeing your old clothes going to someone who loves them! By swapping clothes locally, we’re building a community-led model for reuse, repair, and extending the life of our garments & textiles.

Contact us: [email protected]