T.O. the Good Swap: July, July!

Our mission differs from service organizations such as clothing banks which provide access to free or low-cost clothing for disadvantaged people. This list of clothing banks in Toronto may be useful if you are looking for these services.

_______________________________________________

By swapping instead of shopping (or dumping your clothes at a thrift store), you’re participating in the circular economy, keeping clothing out of landfills, saving money, updating your wardrobe, avoiding unethical fast fashion and resource depletion, and sharing with a community of likeminded people… and sharing feels good.

All the sweet haul dopamine, none of the ethical dilemma!

Learn more about the fashion industry and how to care for clothing you truly no longer need on our Resources page.

_______________________________________________

Stop at the welcome area with 1-10 items of preloved clothing, footwear, jewelry, and accessories in good condition (a.k.a laundered and folded, no rips, stains, used undies or socks). We’ll check you in and you’ll place them in their piles!

Take up to 10 items and try things on in the Centre for Social Innovation’s gender neutral (and mirror-filled!) bathrooms.

Tag @t.o.thegoodswap to share your finds with the world.

_______________________________________________

1. Be nice to each other.

2. Respect physical boundaries.

3. Don’t hoard. Try things on as you go so others can check them out if you decide not to keep them.

4. Don't hover. Please keep the drop-off table clear and let volunteers place the items before looking through them.

5. Don’t use the swap as a dumping ground. The end-of-life care of your textiles is your responsibility. You bought it, you bury it.

6. Don’t do stuff that makes us have to write any more community guidelines.

*Please do not actually bury it. .

_______________________________________________

Please note that TTGS switches locations between the ground floors of 720 Bathurst St. (CSI Annex) and 192 Spadina Ave. (CSI Spadina).

Both the Centre for Social Innovation locations are accessible spaces, details below!

_______________________________________________

TTGS takes place at the Centre for Social Innovation’s two locations on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Tkaronto (Toronto) is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

We are grateful to make use of this space and hope to learn from, and integrate, Indigenous knowledge and values into these events.

Both the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) locations are accessible spaces.

720 BATHURST ST.

The ground floor of CSI Annex is fully accessible for mobility devices. Guests will enter through the south-east door – the entrance is equipped with a lift.

192 SPADINA AVE.

CSI Spadina’s ground floor is fully accessible with a ramp at the main entrance and a lift on the south side of the building located in the laneway between 192 and 190 Spadina Ave.

Please don't arrive early! The doors open at 6pm and we'll be setting up until then. We promise, there's no need to rush!

That said, doors close at 7:45pm, so please arrive before then!

Masks are optional. Maintain a safe distance from your fellow swappers and wash your items before you swap them.

If you’re feeling under the weather or have recently been around someone who is, stay home and join us at the next event! Covid or not, no one wants to get sick.

Please read in a very serious voice: *We don’t take responsibility for garments donated and swapped and accept no liability for any claim or loss resulting from any transaction taking place at the event.*

_______________________________________________

Yes… but donations are needed.

T.O. the Good Swap is run out-of-pocket by one not-rich human person and a few very lovely volunteers. Your donation goes directly towards: a thank you lunch for the volunteers (think: pizza, sushi, falafel, not a 10 course meal), gas for the car I borrow to haul donations around the city, bits n' bobs like printing, complimentary tea and coffee for swappers, and the upfront costs I incurred when starting this whole thing. I don't pay myself for admin time/effort that goes into the swaps.

If you can spare between $2-$8 that would be amazing.

TL;DR: donations go towards covering the cost of running these swaps. If we're [I'm] able to cover the costs we [I] donate the rest to the Clean Clothes Campaign!

If you can sell it, do it! Make that cash!

BUT instead of dumping the stuff you didn't sell at a thrift store bring it to the swap! You can read our Resources page to find out what actually happens to the clothing you donate to thrift stores (hint: it’s not great)!

We straight up do.not.know. That’s the magic of a swap - it’s all determined by the swappers!

While we can’t guarantee you’ll find something you love, doing these things will help:

• Bring items that YOU would be delighted to find.

• Invite friends who share your style and/or sizing - they’ll probably have something you like!

• Invite those who DON’T share your style or sizing - this will help ensure variety and inclusion!

Ask yourself, “Would someone else want to wear this?”. If it’s clean and in good condition, the answer is probably yes! Just don’t bring items that are worn out, stained, or worse-for-wear. If you need help with the end-of-life of your apparel, please review our resources page!

Can I bring kid’s clothes? Yesss, kids need clothes too!

Household items? Nahhh, we’re focusing on apparel for now - but maybe one day!

No, please. Please do not do that.We accept only gently used clothing in good condition at the welcome desk. The swap is only as useful as the items we bring, so please don’t just cram all your old items in a bag and dump ‘em out. That would not be good.

If your items have lost their utility as wearable garments, find other uses for them, or recycle them!

Hah. Nope, if you just want to donate your items that’s cool!

If you can’t drop them off at the swap, let us know and we’ll coordinate an early drop off time for you. Shoot an email to [email protected] or DM us at @t.o.thegoodswap!

Definitely. Just bring something next time!

Oh yeah! If they haven’t been claimed and you haven’t found anything, feel free to take your items back. We won’t hold them for you, so grab them on your way out!

Many used clothing collectors don’t actually reuse clothing in a sustainable way. We suggest consigning them or donating directly to charities in need of the specific items you have.

We want your clothes to go to a loving home with someone who really wants them, instead of a landfill.

If items aren’t swapped or reclaimed they will be kept for another swap or donated responsibly.

Of course! Just make sure they RSVP, we've got limited space!

Send an email to [email protected] to get all your q’s a’d, or check out goodswap.ca!

_______________________________________________

The Centre for Social Innovation

The Centre for Social Innovation is a hub for people working for people and planet. With two co-working, meeting room and events locations in downtown Toronto and member programming, they’re a perfect place find space, make connections, and make impact. We’re very, very happy to host our swaps at CSI!

Wanna be a pal? Message us to talk about partnering and sponsorship!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Centre for Social Innovation - Spadina, 192 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Canada