The SKIP, Destiny Magazine Fashion Exchange
To mark the beginning of women's month, Skip in collaboration with Destiny Magazine hosted a fashion exchange where ladies swapped clothes in order to shop. This fashion exchange was a part of a series of events that have been hosted all over Gauteng since late last year.
The Centurion exchange was held at the beautiful Royal Elephant with Destiny's columnist Timothy Maurice Webster as the MC and Metro FM DJ, Idols SA Judge Unathi Msengana as the main speaker. The event started with circulating canapes, bottomless champagne and entertainment by an electrical string quartet all girl band called The Muses.
Columnists: Myself with Destiny Magazine's Columnist, Timothy Maurice Webster.
The Muses serenading us with divine classical music.
Each fashion exchange participant was required to bring three or more nearly-new clothing items which are then evaluated and color graded. So in three simple steps you:
- Go through your wardrobe, pick three or more high-fashion items that you value but nolonger wear for some reason.
- Select, wash, clean and mend these items so that they are in their best conditon for the fashion exchange.
- Submit your clothes for grading. After your clothes are graded you are given a pamphlet containing boxes with the color grades your clothes received. This then acts as your shopping card, you are allowed to shop for other clothing items with similar color codes as the clothes you brought in.
This is a very smart and easy way to renew your wardrobe. The only downside (which is not really a downside considering the value of the clothes that some people bring), is that they do not accept clothes from famous retail chain stores, so forget about the inhouse brands from; Mr Price, Edgars, Truworths and Identity to name but a few. With all the clothes I brought, I had a Indentity nearly-new blazer(which cost me good money, might I add hahaha) that was not accepted, talk about being strict on the high-fashion bit! The fashion exchange trend is very big in New York and globally, with numerous shops, organization or even individuals swapping clothing. With the global recession putting financial pressure on all of us, clothes-swapping is a great alternative to 'buy new garments' without incurring any debt plus you get to update your look without spending any money.
Following, the grading of our clothes, we were ushered to a different section where Unathi Msengana shared her beautiful life story with us. She talked about the importance of staying true to oneself and that when pursing your dreams, you will ruffle a few feathers. She further shared with us how her decision to not "sell out" in many spheres of her life (including the decision to keep her hair natural) has opened many doors to her that had she been "just like everyone else" she would not have enjoyed the benefits that came with walking in her own truth. Unathi told of how before she even got the Idols SA job she knew she was being judged and that for her was not an easy burden to carry. She further mentioned how she never wears anything that is not designed by a South African designer on Idols because she wants to use that platform to inspire other people who are pursuing their dreams.
Unathi Msengana delivering her moving and inspiring speech.
Once Unathi was done with her amazing speech, we began shopping. I have never seen so many women (myself included) that excited to exchange clothes. I got myself some lovely items and in those was a never-been-worn-before-high-fashion Mango boyfriend blazer which is now one of the favourite items in my closet. The next fashion exchange will be at The Maslow in Sandton, I cannot wait, it should be interesting.
With my new-to-me items after shopping.
I truly loved the idea of exchanging high-fashion clothes and even spoke to the brains behind this idea in South Africa, about doing it here in Swaziland. It was more than just about clothes; it was fun and inspirational (with the speeches and the women who shared their life stories). Do you think it would be viable to have a fashion exchange, say in Mbabane and Manzini? Would you attend a fashion exchange if we were to host one? I am looking forward to hearing your view on this because if you think its a viable idea it would be interesting to do one. I mean, why not?
Please follow this column and engage with us on:
*Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheKokonutStylist
*Twitter: www.twitter.com/kokonutstylist
For feedback, email: kokonutstylist@observer.org.sz
Written By: Koko Shabangu
