this is how we swap it.
Steps
1. Check-In
A volunteer will welcome you at the entrance and check your name off the registration list. No need to print or show your phone, just give your name.
2. Drop Off
Bring up to 10 items (or 2 grocery bags) of preloved clothing, footwear, jewelry, or accessories. Items must be clean, folded, and in good condition.
3. Swap
Browse the racks and find pieces you love. Note: we don’t organize by size or gender. If it feels good, wear it.
4. Keep
Take home what works for you. We encourage you to keep your haul to about the same number of items you brought. It’s not about quantity, it’s about finding pieces you’ll actually wear.
5. Share
Show off your finds! Tag @the.good.swap and sign up for our mailing list to find out when the next swap is!
COMMUNITY GUIDELINES
Be kind. Treat everyone with respect and care.
Respect boundaries. Give people space—both physical and personal.
Bring 10 items or fewer. Please respect our item limit.
Check your items. No holes, stains, missing parts, or broken pieces. Everything should be clean, folded, and ready to be loved again.
Use scent-free soap. Wash items before bringing them.
Don’t hoard. Try things on as you go so others can browse items you decide not to keep.
Don’t hover. Keep the drop-off table clear and let volunteers place items before looking through them.
No dumping. The end-of-life care of your items is your responsibility.
Take to wear, not to sell. Please only take what you (or someone you know) will actually use.
Keep it simple. Don’t do stuff that makes us write more rules.
*Please do not actually bury it. 85% of textile waste ends up in landfills each year. That’s bad.
Fine print: *We don’t take responsibility for garments donated and swapped and accept no liability for any claim or loss resulting from any transaction taking place at the event.*
Swap at your own risk: The swap is a high traffic event, and the opportunity for germs and pests to spread is elevated. We ask that swappers always wash their clothing in scent-free soap before a swap and only attend if they are in good health, but please be advised that we cannot guarantee the conditions of items at - or outcomes of - the swap. Take precautions: wear a face mask, use hand sanitizer, and wash your items when you get home!
FAQs
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The swap is run out-of-pocket by one person. Your donation goes directly towards: storage, admin costs, a thank you lunch for the volunteers (think: pizza, sushi, falafel, not a 10 course meal), gas to haul donations around the city. If you can spare $5, great! If not, there is an accessible ticket.
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If you can sell your stuff, do it! Make that cash!
BUT instead of dumping the gently used items you didn't sell at a thrift store bring them to the swap!
You can read our Resources page to find out what actually happens to the clothing you donate to thrift stores (hint: it’s not great)! -
Oh gosh, please don't do that. People have lovingly added their items into the sharing economy and you'd be taking it right out. Let's keep the swap spirit alive!
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Honestly? We straight up do.not.know. That’s the magic of a swap - it’s all determined by the swappers!
While we can’t guarantee you’ll find something you love, doing these things will help:
• Bring items that YOU would be delighted to find.
• Invite friends who share your style and/or sizing - they’ll probably have something you like!
• Invite those who DON’T share your style or sizing - this will help ensure variety and inclusion! -
Apparel! Ask yourself, “Would someone else want to wear this?”. If it’s clean and in good condition, the answer is probably yes! Just don’t bring items that are worn out, stained, or worse-for-wear. If you need help with the end-of-life of your apparel, please review our Resources page!
Can I bring kid’s clothes?
Yesss, kids need clothes too!Household items?
Nahhh, we’re focusing on apparel for now - but maybe one day! -
Will someone else definitely want it? Then, yes, definitely! Will someone else POSSIBLY want it? Then no, probably not. Will no one else ever want it? Then, nope!
We accept only gently used clothing in good condition.
The swap is only as useful as the items we bring, so please don’t just cram all your old items in a bag and dump ‘em out. That would not be good.
If your items have lost their utility as wearable garments, find other uses for them, or recycle them! -
Hah. Nope, if you just want to donate your items that’s cool!
If you can’t drop them off at the swap, let us know and we’ll can coordinate an early drop off time for you. Shoot an email to hello@goodswap.ca or DM us at @t.o.thegoodswap! -
Unfortunately, when we allowed this in the past, it resulted in people assuming the event was for “free” clothing, something more akin to a clothing bank. This is an important offering but it isn’t ours. We're here to support the sharing economy we ask that people bring at least one item.
As a reminder: our mission is to eliminate textile waste by encouraging participation in the conscious fashion movement. This differs from service organizations such as clothing banks which provide access to free or low-cost clothing for those in need of it. This list of clothing banks in Toronto may be useful if you are looking for these services. -
Yep! If you notice that your items haven't been claimed, feel free to take your items back. We won’t hold them for you, so its your responsibility to do so!
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We want your clothes to go to a loving home with someone who really wants them, instead of a landfill.
If items aren’t swapped or reclaimed, they will be kept for another swap or donated responsibly.
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Of course! Invite ‘em all! We’d love to grow our community of swappers.
Some tips you may have already read above:
• Invite friends who share your style and/or sizing - they’ll probably have something you like!
• Invite those who DON’T share your style or sizing - this will help ensure variety and inclusion! -
Sadly, if you’re on the waitlist it means we’ve hit capacity. But there’s always next month!
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Send an email to hello@goodswap.ca to get all your q’s a’d.
(Hint: if you email, read the automatic reply, it typically has the answers you need!)