QueerSwap is an LGBTQ+ clothing swap that enables everyone in the queer community to find clothing that fits and expresses their individuality and affirm their identity more sustainably, without breaking the bank. For our Summer Swap Fest we are taking over Chats Palace in Homerton, so we will be able to offer you a social/games room with board and card games to borrow, an outdoor space for soaking up the sun, rails upon rails of secondhand clothes for you to swap from, free alterations and mending from our QueerSwap volunteers, and a mini-market with sustainable small business owners for you to shop from!
As if that wasn't enough, we are also putting together a full lineup of workshops for you to participate in!
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 ACTIVITY SCHEDULE 🖤💜💙💚💛🧡❤️
First Floor
QueerSwap Clothing Swap
Mini-Market + Flash Tats
Social/Games Room
12-6 PM
Second Floor
Beginner Salsa Workshop
12 - 1:30 PM
Custom Collage Carabiner Keychain Workshop
12 - 1:30 PM
Upcycled Bag Charm Workshop
1:30 - 3:00 PM
Drop-In Collage Art
3:30 - 6:00
Beginner Burlesque Workshop
4:00 - 5:30 PM
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 WHAT TO BRING (RECENTLY UPDATED!) 🖤💜💙💚💛🧡❤️
We will not accept any dirty items, or items that are stained, torn (unless “distressed” intentionally), missing buttons, have broken zips, etc. We also will not accept underwear(pants), socks, tights/hosiery, or earrings/piercings unless new in packaging. Shoes and coats must be in great condition or better, and clean! We do not accept childrens clothing.
We do allow hats, scarves, belts, bracelets, necklaces, binders, corsets, bodysuits, and bags.
If you have more than 10 items you may bring the excess as a donation. You will still be capped at 10 swapping tickets in order to help ensure everyone can find items.
There will be no changing facilities at this swap, but we will have mirrors! If you want to try things on make sure you're wearing something snug so you can step in/slide it on.
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 HOW THE SWAP WORKS 🖤💜💙💚💛🧡❤️
Swap participants are welcome to bring up to 10 items of gently-used clothing and exchange them for new-to-you items that suit their current style. When you arrive you will exchange your swappable items for tokens. You can then browse items brought by others, and “check out” at the end by “cashing in” your tokens for those items.
1 item = 1 token to exchange 🔄
Once the items are traded for tokens they go straight onto the floor, so make sure you are 100% sure before you pass them over.
Then you can look at all the items brought by other people, take a break to check out the market or grab a bite, do another lap to see if anything else you like has been added, and “check-out” with your chosen items whenever you are finished. We encourage people to arrive earlier so they can get the most out of the event and see more items that come into the swap before they are snagged by someone else.
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 TICKETS & DONATIONS 🖤💜💙💚💛🧡❤️
Tickets are PWYC to make sure this space stays financially accessible to all. If you're able to pitch in more to help cover our costs, we always appreciate it. We are paying a hire fee for this incredible venue, and QueerSwap is entirely funded by donations and the founders.
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🖤 ACCESSIBILITY 🖤💜💙💚💛🧡❤️
Chats Palace's first floor is step-free and wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet large enough for a carer to attend. All toilets are gender neutral. The workshops however will be held on the second floor, which is located up two half-flights of stairs with a small platform in between. Clothing will be hung on industrial rails, which will be about 1.65m high, and some items will be on normal height tables.
COVID Testing is recommended before attending. Please do not attend if you are ill. Masks are encouraged.
This event is explicitly trans-inclusive. Transphobia will not be tolerated.