Swop Collingwood

Many of us have that one friend we swap clothes with. The friend whose once-loved jumpers, jeans and shirts invariably end up in our own wardrobes over the years (and vice versa). Swop Clothing Exchange is like that friend, except it lets you enjoy pre-loved vintage and designer wares from the entire community, right on Smith Street in Collingwood.

That means you can buy pre-loved pieces – whether vintage, designer or modern – spanning from the 1960s to the Y2K-era to now. Some items that have flown off the racks: a quilted Box 19 Alexander McQueen bag, a Vivienne Westwood suit and dead stock 2000s Bettina Liano jeans. Yet it’s not all designer here. The team aims to have a range of price points in store so you can find anything from a cute Y2K tank to a vintage Prada bag.

Swop’s business model is straightforward. You can buy quality pre-loved clothes at a fraction of their original retail price. And you can bring in your own clothes (in good condition) to exchange – either for 30 per cent of the sale value in cash or 50 per cent in-store credit. Since 2013, this model (and its success) has seen Swop quietly spread across Australia’s east cost, with stores in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Swop is a veritable treasure trove that calls for at least half an hour to hunt through the many surprises you’re sure to find. And, if you’re tired of that friend quietly swapping out beloved items from your own wardrobe, you could bring them along, too.