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SALT LAKE CITY — Like the saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!” That’s especially true if you’re a teenage girl and the “junk” is actually a closet full of somebody else’s clothes.
Riley Haycock is an energetic 16-year-old girl with a love of fashion. Ideally, she’d love to shop 'til she drops. But with four other siblings, Riley's family abides by a budget. With a struggling economy and many parents unemployed, back-to-school shopping isn’t what it used to be.
Teenage girls love to raid each other’s closets and with that in mind, Riley planned a “style swap” to collect gently-used clothing. After gathering hundreds of items, the clothes were laid out for the swap in a church building where young women were invited to come and choose from donated items for free!
“I put up collection boxes in every church building in our (LDS) stake. I collected shoes, purses, swimsuits and just about anything you can wear. We didn’t put out anything for the swap that wasn’t in good condition. It was all in style, but girls had grown out of them," Riley said. "If a girl owned something that no longer fit, and had become immodest in length, she could donate it to the swap where it might fit another girl more modestly."
The shop was set up like a mini shopping spree, using the church bathroom as a dressing room. The event had a respectable turnout, and Riley is hoping next year will be even more successful.
“We’d love to do this every year," she said. "The girls who came to the swap have talked about how much they loved it and they actually wear the clothes they picked out! It was great for the girls who really needed the clothes, and just a lot of fun for everyone who participated."
Angela Haycock, Riley’s mother, said, ”The style swap also built camaraderie amongst the girls who came. They weren’t only picking out clothes for themselves, they were helping and complimenting each other the whole time. Riley inherited so many items herself, she really doesn't need to shopping for school clothes this year!”
When rummaging through a thrift store or a garage sale doesn't scream cool to a teenager, an organized style swap is a fun option to "up-cycle" unwanted clothes and save on school shopping. Adult women might even want to consider holding a swap before they head to the mall this fall.
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Nicole Pollard currently resides in Canyon Country, Calif.
