Cork students hope swap shop could change mindset around clothing consumption 

A NOVEL initiative by students at Mayfield Community School proved such a success that work is already underway for a repeat of the project next term.

As part of the school’s recent wellbeing week, students taking part in a sustainability module, set up a clothing swap shop.

Pupils and teachers were encouraged to bring in clothes and items that they were no longer using which could be exchanged for other items.

While the circular economy is increasingly at the forefront of many people’s minds, students Sophie Lane and Kayleigh Mangan who, together with other pupils, co-ordinated the project under the guidance of Ms Catherine Russel, said there was some uncertainty about the endeavour when it was first mooted.

“We wondered would it work. Would someone be thinking they would be wearing someone else’s clothes,” said Kayleigh.

This was echoed by Sophie who said that while they liked the concept, it was initially hard to get motivated for the project.

Piles got 'bigger and bigger'

Despite their initial reservations, planning for the swap-shop began in earnest.

“We started talking to the students. It was also about changing the mindset [around sustainability],” said Kayleigh.

As clothing started to arrive in, the students themselves started to feel more positive about the project. They were impressed with the high-quality of the clothing being submitted.

“People started bringing in clothes and the piles got bigger and bigger,” said Kayleigh.

“In the days running up to it we washed the clothes. Ms Daly brought in a steamer,” she added, explaining how they prepared for the shop.

The students curated collections of clothing around the school which would be available on the day.

“We got our mojo back and things started changing, people started asking us could we hold clothes for them,” explained Sophie.

On the day, the girls said, there was a huge appetite for the project.

“People had had an idea they would be getting raggedy clothes, but it was good quality clothes.

“It went from I don’t want to take someone else’s clothes to can you hold it,” said Sophie.

Next project 

The project was such a success that work is already underway for another swap-shop next term.

The students explained that any clothes remaining from the event will be made available at the next swap shop and, if there are any items left at the end of the year, these will be donated to charity.

Ms Russel, who teaches the students a sustainability module, paid tribute to the students.

“The students put so much work in and there was a creative element too in terms of writing and making speeches to students, organising the clothes and deciding how to display these,” she said.

“We are hoping it will become a regular thing, that we will make it a culture in the school,” she said.

“Hopefully the swap shop can change the mindset around this and can reduce consumption.”

The project is just one of a number of sustainability initiatives underway at the school with plans in the pipeline to construct a greenhouse from plastic bottles.