Earlier this year, I organised a Halloween costume swap at my kids’ primary school. The swap was an idea from our pupil-led Eco Council. Not only was it a fantastic way for our school community to reduce waste and encourage sharing, but I also wanted to show the Eco Council that we could bring their ideas to life. The swap was a success, with many children benefiting from a ‘new’ costume for Halloween. Following this, one of the PTA parents suggested holding a Christmas jumper swap.
Why Swapping Christmas Jumpers Is a Great Idea
Christmas jumpers epitomise our fast fashion habits. Each year, millions are purchased in the UK, despite many of us already owning at least one. According to UK charity Hubbub, two out of five Christmas jumpers are only worn once during the festive season (1), with a quarter either discarded or left unworn thereafter (2).
Hubbub also surveyed over 100 Christmas jumpers available from UK retailers and found that 95% were made wholly or partly from synthetic materials, such as acrylic. These materials contribute to microplastic pollution, which threatens marine life and poses risks to human health (1).
Swapping Christmas jumpers reduces the demand for new production, lowering carbon emissions and water usage associated with textile manufacturing. By choosing instead to reuse, we are not only cutting waste but also helps families save money, especially those who may struggle to afford a new jumper each year. Jumper swaps offer a simple and sustainable way to access “new” jumpers without the expense, benefiting both the planet and your pocket.
Clothes swaps are already popular among schools and community groups, and are a great way for children to see us making more sustainable choices. Whether it’s swapping school uniforms, fancy dress costumes, or party outfits, these events provide an affordable way for families to access needed items while also serving as effective fundraisers for schools and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs).
How to Organise a Christmas Jumper Swap
We’ve decided to swap both Christmas jumpers and tops this year, but you could also swap Christmas dresses, fancy dress costumes or even Christmas hats.
There are a few different ways to organise the swap, and the method you choose will depend on your school’s preferences and resources.
True Swap Model: Children bring an item and exchange it for another. This can be managed with a token system or a live event where items are swapped directly. However, this model may exclude children who don’t have an item to contribute.
Donation Model (Our Approach): We’ve opted for a donation-based model again following the success of our Halloween swap using the same model. For two weeks, a donation box will be placed in the school office where parents and children can drop off unwanted items. These donations will be checked, sorted by size, and prepped for the swap. We ask that jumpers are cleaned before donation, though if a jumper needs minor repairs this is okay.
The week before our school’s Christmas lunch, the PTA will host a pop-up stall in the playground at school pick-up time, where children can choose a "new-to-them" Christmas jumper in exchange for an optional donation to the PTA. We plan to hold the stall every day for a week to ensure as many families as possible can participate. Any leftover jumpers will likely be offered to the wider community via our local swap group or the Olio app.
Getting Started: Roles You’ll Need
To successfully organise a Christmas jumper swap, you’ll need a few key people to help. Here are some suggested volunteer roles:
Communication Lead: This person will handle promoting the swap to the school community through posters, class WhatsApp groups, the school newsletter, and noticeboards. In my case, the children from the Eco Council have also designed posters to display in their classrooms. You could also ask to speak at a school assembly with the added benefit of helping children to understand the environmental benefits of holding a swap.
Donation Sorter: A dedicated volunteer (or, even better, volunteers!) will be needed to check and organise the jumpers donations. Ideally, one person in the group should be able to make small repairs if necessary, ensuring the jumpers are in good condition for swapping.
Pop-up Stall Volunteers: You’ll need a team to run the pop-up stall, displaying donations and helping children pick out jumpers.
I've created a Canva template for posters to help you promote the swap. It includes a label to go on the donation collection bin.
Equipment for Organising a Successful Swap
Here’s a list of basic equipment and supplies you’ll need to organise a Christmas Jumper swap:
Donation Collection Box: Place this in an easily accessible location at the school, such as near the drop-off area or in the school office. Clearly label it with a sign like "Christmas Jumper Donations Here" to avoid confusion. You may also want to include donation guidelines to ensure the items are appropriate for swapping.
Sorting Bags or Boxes: After collecting donations, volunteers will need bags or boxes to organise the items by size. It may be helpful to have basic cleaning tools like lint rollers or fabric de-pillers on hand, as well as a sewing kit for minor repairs. Having someone prepared to wash items if needed also recommended.
Pop-up Stall Display Equipment: To attract interest in the pop-up stall, especially from those who may not regularly buy secondhand items, display jumpers neatly on clothes rails or hanging racks. If the school has organised secondhand uniform sales, they may have some already, otherwise it may be possible to borrow some from someone in the local community. Adding size labels can make it easier for people to find the right fit. A table is also useful for laying out more items. It might also be nice to put up a few decorations, such as bunting, and ask those running a stall to consider wearing their Christmas jumper or headpiece to get everyone into the festive spirit!
Additional Ideas
Expand Your Swap Stock: If you need more jumpers, reach out to the wider community. You could post requests in local Facebook groups, Freecycle, or other community swap forums.
Share Success Stories: After the swap, consider sharing stats from the swap including the number of items rehomed and the total money raised for the school. With permission, it might also be nice to share photos of some of the children in their "new" Christmas jumpers.
Repeat the Model: Once you've cracked the organisation of the Christmas Jumper Swap, consider using this model for other events, like costumes for World Book Day or Halloween.
By organising a Christmas Jumper swap, you’re not only helping families save money but also reducing the environmental impact of fast fashion. It’s a simple initiative with a big potential payoff for both the planet and your school community.
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