On average, we only regularly wear a third of the clothes that we own. Most of us have T-shirts we’ve never worn, jumpers that we have forgotten about and jeans that we stopped wearing five years ago.

However, we don’t often think about getting rid of our clothes and, if we do, we often don’t know the best way to do this. Throw them away or recycle them? Sell them online on special websites? Donate them to a charity shop?

When I moved to Leeds to go to university, I discovered Leeds Community Clothes Exchange (LCCE). It started in 2007 and has become a very popular event which happens once a month. You pay £3 to enter, and your clothes are checked (they must be clean and in good condition). You are then given one credit per item (so for example if you bring 7 items, you can choose 7 items to take home). The clothes exchange has become a community social event; people often spend a whole afternoon there with their friends!

You can get rid of the clothes you never wear and also can find exciting new clothes, at a total cost of only £3! I went to the LCCE throughout my time at university and never bought expensive clothes in high-street stores. Most of my clothes are from clothes swaps, and I love the feeling that I paid little for those.

Similar events happen across the UK. The LCCE is one of the most successful, and people are looking to set up branches in other cities such as Bristol and Manchester.

ЭТО ТЕКСТ

​