Abbey People are inviting local residents to refresh their wardrobes, meet their neighbours, and cut carbon emissions at the next Abbey Swish Clothes Swap Party, held on Friday 3rd October 6–8:30pm at East Barnwell Community Centre.
The Swish, run in partnership with Cambridge Carbon Footprint and funded by the City Council Sustainable Cities grant, is taking place during Sustainable Fashion Week 2025 and offers a fun, practical way to enjoy fashion without the environmental cost. Guests can bring up to ten clean, good-quality clothing items to swap, enjoy a drink from the bar, and browse rails of “new-to-you” clothes.
At the last Abbey Swish, the community swapped an incredible 75 kg of clothing. Using data from Restart’s Fixometer, which estimates that reusing 1 kg of clothing saves 27.9 kg of CO₂ emissions, this equates to a saving of around 2,093 kg of CO₂ - the same as driving more than 5,000 miles in a car.
“Clothes Swaps are a fantastic way to build a more circular economy in our local community. You can share clothes and accessories you no longer need with your neighbours, and in return find ‘new’ items that can reignite your wardrobe. This also helps Abbey residents to save money on buying brand new clothing, particularly as the seasons are changing,” said Caitlin Herman, Sustainability Co-ordinator.
The event grew out of Abbey People’s popular Repair Cafes, which revealed a real appetite for sewing skills. In addition to swapping clothes, skilled sewing volunteers will be on hand to repair or alter garments on the night, helping people get more wear out of what they already own.
“We had people telling us they wanted more evening events locally, where they could socialise in a relaxed setting,” said an Abbey People volunteer when talking about the last Swish event. “The Swish feels like a party - there’s music, drinks, and plenty of laughter - but it’s also about sharing and creating a circular economy in our own community.”
The Abbey Swish is free to attend. Clothes drop-off begins at 6pm, and swapping starts at 6:45pm.
Event details:
Date: Friday 3rd October 2025
Time: 6pm–8:30pm
Venue: East Barnwell Community Centre, Newmarket Road, CB5 8RS
Entry: Free
What to bring: Up to 10 clean, good-quality clothing items
