Whether you’re spring cleaning or doing your usual tidying, you may be stumped on what to do with all your stuff that’s too good to toss. Or maybe you want to refresh your closet, but don’t want to spend too much on a new look.
Swaps are a great way to keep items out of the landfill, save money, and form new connections with the community around you.
That’s the sentiment of Megan Brigaman, whose monthly Books & Brews Swap was formed as a way to bring fellow book lovers together.
“[A book] can sit on a shelf and become stagnant, but when you take that book off a shelf, you read it and have an experience with it,” Brigaman said. “By giving it to another person and sharing that book with them, you can share part of your experience by talking about it – but also give this other person an opportunity to have their own experience.”
Anyone can run a swap to give items like clothes, books, and furniture a second life. While leaving a “free stuff” box on the curb or posting on a Facebook Buy Nothing group may help rehome an item, these in-person events allow you the opportunity to create bonds with others with similar interests.
And while reading is a solitary activity, swaps like Brigaman’s can break introverts out of their shells. “People who come alone have an opportunity to interact with others who might be likeminded people, other book nerds,” Brigaman said. At the swaps they “get a good vibe from the people who are there and have a chance to mingle and meet people who they might not have met before.”
Here are some local swaps if you want to pass along your items to someone else, make another person’s trash your treasure, or just meet new friends.
Books & Brews began in October 2024 as an offshoot from Megan Brigaman’s blog, Biblio Travels, spotlighting local independent bookstores and libraries.
At these swaps, attendees are encouraged to not just bring an unwanted book but also a beloved book that they’re ready to pass along to someone else. A fan of craft beers, Brigaman hosts her swaps in breweries in Philadelphia and its suburbs. Local bookstore owners will occasionally table as well.
Be sure to register for the swap quickly. There’s a 75-person cap. Attendees can bring up to ten books but they can take four they want. Any leftover books are saved for the next swap or donated to Little Free Libraries.
Another option to share your wares in West Philly is the Really Really Free Market at Lava Space. The swap has been operating since 2010 and attendees can bring clothing, household items, clothes and books. Furniture is no longer being distributed or accepted. This year, the market is operating on both the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon at 4134 Lancaster Ave.
Clothing can quickly accumulate in your closet. Americans buy an estimated 68 garments a year, and globally 80 billion items of clothing are bought annually.
Clothing swaps can be a great way to freshen up your wardrobe while also diverting textiles from overflowing thrift stores and landfills.
Philly Swap hosts a quarterly clothing swap on Saturday afternoons. Swappers can expect both new and pre-loved clothing in sizes ranging from XS to 3XL. While the majority of the items are free, there is a Swap Shop rack to sell curated upcycled clothing to support the swap. Address for the swap is given upon registration.
The ethos at West Philly’s Really Really Free Market is everything is free. The autonomous one-stop shop run by residents has been operating since 2021 in Malcolm X Park every last Saturday of the month. The goal is to promote a gift-giving economy as opposed to one focused on profit.
What’s accepted there? Almost anything – from clothing and house plants to small home decor and pet gear. Whatever’s left will be saved for the next swap or donated to a partner organization.
If you’re going to contribute to the market, organizers ask people to bring no more than three bags filled with donations. The donation window and start time may be subject to change, but currently you can make drop-offs from 11 a.m. to noon, with the event taking place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
If you want to swap your clothes on a more regular basis, Stitch & Destroy is hosting swaps monthly at its storefront at 523 S. 4th Street. Attendees can bring a maximum of 20 garments and take as much as they want back with them. Accepted textiles include clothing, bedding, linens, and curtains in any condition so long as it’s washed. Keep an eye on the event page for when the next swap is announced.
The shop’s all about bringing new life to something old. In addition to selling upcycled apparel, Stitch & Destroy teaches sewing and design classes so you can get crafty and be more sustainable at home.
