Recycling is good, but reusing is even better, as South Holland residents will discover next Thursday.
That’s when two lively young women with innovative ideas about recycling are holding The South Holland Swish.
It’s not new, as there have been swishing events elsewhere for some years, but this is possibly the first for Spalding and it’s completely free.
Essentially, swishing is the eco-friendly way to update your wardrobe, by swapping clothes you no longer wear – or perhaps have never worn – for something you will wear.
It’s an opportunity for trousers that have become too tight, dresses that were always slightly too short or other clothing, shoes and accessories that have, for whatever reason, hung about unused, to have a second chance of life.
South Holland District Council waste and recycling support officer Laura Simpkins and engagement and monitoring officer for environmental services Sam Gibbons came up with the idea for the swish.
The district has a reasonable recycling rate at 30.1 per cent and the council has received funding to make sure the good work continues.
However, Sam said: “We want to promote not just recycling but reuse because, if anything, reuse is better than recycling. It saves the energy it takes to transform it in recycling.”
Laura and Sam recognise that charity shops are an important route for recycling clothing, and so there will also be a fashion show at The South Holland Swish compered by Tulip Radio’s Jan Whitbourn.
Models will be wearing clothing donated to the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Butterfly Hospice, Oxfam, St Barnabas, Sue Ryder and Sense shops.
The plan is that people take up to five articles of clothing (with hangers) or accessories to the event at 7pm and will be given a token for each in exchange.
Obviously, all items should be clean and undamaged, and this will be checked before clothing is accepted.
Laura explains: “It’s about quality clothing and prolonging the lifetime of a garment.
“We don’t want people not to donate to charity shops, that’s not the point of this. It’s just another fun way of reusing clothes.”
The fashion show and browsing time begin at 7.30pm and the important part of the evening, the swishing, is from 8pm to 9.30pm.
Clothes will be exchanged on a first come, first served basis – there will be a small changing area with mirrors.
There are free swishing bags for the first 50 people.
• The South Holland Swish is at South Holland Centre, Spalding, on September 26.