Uganda’s Very First Pop-up Swap Shop is Here!

Okay I want you picture this very familiar scenario. You’re standing outside your over-flowing closet, knee-deep in clothes…and yet you have absolutely nothing to wear! Don’t worry, hundreds of people around you feel this type of way.

Scenario Two. You spent a good amount of cash on an outfit for a big event-but let’s be honest, you’re never gonna wear that dress ever again. But you can’t throw it away. No small amount of money went into its acquisition, and it’s practically still in mint condition.

What if we told you there’s a solution to your conundrum?

Presenting The Hanger and The Nu Wardrobe’s latest venture…Uganda’s very first pop-up swap shop!

Now to give you a basic background of the Nu (I’m assuming this is a play on the word “New”) Wardrobe. It’s a community centered online platform to share clothes with friends and other Nu members. Started in Dublin, Ireland, this wardrobe believes in borrowing, swapping, thrifting or renting clothing. All this is done in establishments known as swap-shops where you bring your clothes that are in a good condition and do not wear anymore- to simply swap with someone else. There. Bam. New Clothes for free.

It’s our pleasure to inform the general public that this Saturday the sixth of July, the swapping action is coming to Kampala at the Bistro in Kisementi!

Living in this generation of fast-fashion means that you have at least one of these two problems;

1. You have a personal sense of fashion but lack the cash to support the demands that it comes with. I mean, it’s so easy to decide that you want or need new clothes-it’s getting them that’s the problem. Even if cash isn’t an issue for you, there’s no way you’re safe from a bigger, under-rated problem…
2. Global warming and environmental degradation are going to kill us all-probably. According to a report by the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, fashion is responsible for 92 million tons of solid waste dumped in landfills each year. The fashion industry is also the second-biggest consumer of water, producing 20 percent of wastewater while also generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. So yes. It’s pretty much a case of get fabulous clothes or literally die trying. Fast fashion is creating an environmental crisis.

If you’re a guy or a girl in need of new clothes for free or you just care about the earth-then The Bistro at Kisementi is the place to be this afternoon from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

So what do you have to do exactly?

There’s no entry free. The clothing is the currency here. Just carry clothes that are in good condition, no more than ten items and you’re in. By good condition I mean no torn, stained, color damaged, dirty or stretched out clothing. And definitely no underwear.

If you don’t want to carry stuff after you’ve swapped-no big deal. The clothes can be packed and delivered for you on Monday. The same goes for if you just want to drop off your clothes to get swapped. Those that aren’t swapped can be sent back to you on Monday.

satisfashionug@gmail.com