We’ve been busy, busy bees whipping up new ideas to make your clothes swap even more exciting!
We’re in talks with the wonderful Alix Mandelson, who sells gorgeous bags and scarves which are handcrafted by East Timorese women. These items are intricately and beautifully made, and best of all, purchases of these handcrafts are helping support the amazingly talented women who build their livelihoods on the success of the items they painstakingly create. We were lucky enough to have Alix come speak to us at a recent Oaktree meeting. The work she is doing through the Australia-East Timor Association is truly inspirational.
Wagamama(only the best noodle bar around, right?) found us (got to love the randomness of Twitter). A couple of Tweets later between us and the lovely Mark, and they just might be getting into our closet with us - shouting a special something for everyone who attends.
And! (the closet is getting mighty crowded, but what can we say - we want you to have the best time!) There just might be personal stylists on hand to help you swap the perfect items for a whole new look.
One last thing: (we’re just bursting to share all this news with you!) the folks at Crown Hotel have been absolutely fantastic, offering exclusive use of their upstairs DOME Bar & Lounge. We’re digging the vibe. With gorgeous decor like this, how could you not?
The Swap Til You Drop team have their arms full with all the clothes & accessories they're eager to swap. Doing some good for East Timor, while sipping champagne and trading in your old treasures for new ones? We can't wait!
So while you fashionistas are counting down the days until Sunday 28th June, we've compiled a list of steps that will help make your treasure hunt a success! Who knows what fabulous vintage finds await you?
Step 1. Search through your wardrobes, and pull out all those clothes and accessories you no longer wear. Dresses, shoes, clutches, pants, jewelry - swap it away!
There are absolutely no restrictions on the number of items you may bring (minimum: 1). The more you bring, the more you can walk away with.
We do ask that you please bring only gently used or new clothes that are wearable. If you'd lend it to a friend, it's good to be swapped with a stranger!
We will be checking all the items at the door for signs of obvious wear and tear, holes, pilling, etc, so please ensure that all items are in kept condition and have been cleaned prior to the day. Remember - only things someone else may want. Yes, that does mean no underwear!
Who knows? Your next LBD could be being pulled out of someone else's wardrobe right now, to be swapped with you!
Step 2. Bring all items to the door at 10 - 11am.
If you're bringing any women's or men's clothes, please make sure they are cleaned, neatly presented, and on hangers!
Any accessories should be in bags.
We all love to do our bit, so please help the environment and bring your own bags to take away your new clothes & accessories in. We won't be providing plastic bags.
For each item you bring in on the day, you will receive a token, which you can then use to exchange for another item.
Each item = 1 token, and vice versa.
Step 3. Sit back and relax til 11:30am when the doors will officially open.
Great music, bubbles and nibbles? We'll have it all. Why not bring your family and friends - make a day of it! There's nothing quite like trading in your old things for new on a lazy Sunday.
Step 4. Swap til you drop!
We will sort the clothes to make it easier for you to peruse.
Please respect your fellow swappers and swap in an orderly fashion – we all know how crazy shopping crowds can get!
There will be communal change rooms if you would like to try on items.
Step 5. Once you are happy with your selections, proceed to check-out where you may exchange the tokens for your new wardrobe!
Step 6. Stick around for the fashion parade!
Bring out your inner catwalk fierceness and strut it out in your new items - who knows, you may be snapped up for our “Vintage Style” Gallery Page! Have you got what it takes? Best dressed walks away with a fantastic prize! (We wish we could win it)
If, at the end of the day, there's anything that hasn't been swapped away, it will be donated to charities.
Swapping to help make poverty history for the youth of East Timor
Who are we? Amritha, Anna, Felicity & Monique - four university students who, as part of The Oaktree Foundation, are raising funds next month in support of Timor-Leste's Youth Livelihoods Program. Doing your bit for East Timorese youth while swapping your way to a new wardrobe? There's really no better way to spend a Sunday.
What is The Oaktree Foundation? In one word? Amazing. Oaktree is an entirely youth-run organisation which is working to empower developing communities through education. We believe education is the key to breaking the poverty cycle and creating lasting change in the lives of the disadvantaged.
Oaktree was founded in 2003, and is now established in NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, VIC and WA. We raise community awareness. We lobby the government. And we fundraise for our overseas projects.
Why do we care? It's simple. We know that this generation can - and will - be the ones to end poverty.
In the last six years, we have partnered with developing countries in six countries, directly empowering over 40,000 young people with access to increased educational opportunities.
'Make Poverty History', one of many Oaktree projects.
So why East Timor?
East Timor is Australia's closest neighbour. Yet it is also one of the world's poorest and youngest nations.
40% of the population live on less than $US0.55 per day. Life expectancy is 56 years. The adult literacy rate is only 58 per cent. And one in ten children? They won't live to see their fifth birthdays.
Crucially, 43% of East Timor's youth remain unemployed. A lack of quality education and peer infrastructure has them facing an incredibly uncertain future.
This is where the ‘Youth Livelihoods Program’ comes in. Supported by the Oaktree Foundation, this program will work with 200 young people aged 16-30 from 10 communities within the district of Aileu, equipping these youth with the vocational, business and life skills training they need to create their own businesses and generate income to support themselves and their families.
When these youth are the future of East Timor, it is in their success that the reconstruction of an East Timor battered by political unrest and conflict lies.
Did you know that the unemployment rate in East Timor is a staggering 43%? You can help! Support the East Timor Youth Livelihoods Program."
The cost?
$375 will allow one East Timorese young person to participate in the program for one year.
$32 will support a young person for one month of the Project.
Just over a dollar a day will enable an East Timorese young person to complete the two year Project.
The clothes swap
Not only will this clothes swap allow us to raise money to alleviate the poverty of East Timorese youth (all proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the program!), but we'll also be exchanging our pre-loved clothes and accessories, and gaining a new wardrobe - all in the spirit of greater sustainability. It's one of those lovely win-win situations!
Your support counts
The Oaktree Foundation receives no ongoing funding and therefore relies upon the generous support of people like you. When you purchase a ticket to join our clothes swap, you will be directly investing in the lives of Timorese youth - helping to achieve real and sustainable change. We know that with your support, and love for clothes swaps, we could really make a strong contribution to empowering East Timorese youth and helping to make their poverty history.
Questions?
Leave us a comment. Shoot us an email. Tweet your heart out. We want to hear them!
We're Amritha, Anna, Felicity & Monique - the co-coordinators of next month's Swap Til You Drop.
Got a question?
Drop us a line at swaptilyoudrop09@gmail.com.
