The most sustainable item of clothing is the one you already own.*
*Or the one you’re about to swap.
About
Good Swap is a monthly clothing exchange for all genders, all bodies, and all ages located in downtown Toronto at the Centre for Social Innovation’s Annex and Spadina locations.
Our Mission
Eliminate textile waste in Toronto and champion ethical and sustainable fashion practices globally by encouraging participation in the conscious fashion movement through swap events, advocacy, and education.
Our mission 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.
Our Vision
To be the community hub for ethical and sustainable fashion education and action in Toronto.
Our Values
T.O. the Good Swap is building a respectful, inclusive, and informed community, one that aims to create an accessible and joyful swapping experience for its members.
We celebrate fashion as a method of self-expression and do not subscribe to gender or sizing stereotypes. We believe in any clothing for any body. If it feels good, wear it!
When it comes to education and awareness-building we avoid using shame as a tactic for social change and prefer positive reinforcement!
Why Swap?
By swapping instead of shopping (or dumping your clothes in a donation bin), you’re participating in the circular economy, keeping clothing out of landfills, saving money, updating your wardrobe, avoiding unethical fast fashion and resource depletion, and sharing with a community of likeminded people… and sharing feels good.
All the sweet haul dopamine, none of the ethical dilemma!
Learn more about the fashion industry and how to care for clothing you truly no longer need on our Resources page.
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1. Be nice to each other.
2. Respect physical boundaries.
3. Don’t hoard. Try things on as you go so others can check them out if you decide not to keep them.
4. Don’t hover. Please keep the drop-off table clear and let volunteers place the items before looking through them.
5. Don’t use the swap as a dumping ground. The end-of-life care of your textiles is your responsibility. You bought it, you bury it.
6. Don’t resell. Please take items that you or someone you love will wear personally.
7. Don’t do stuff that makes us have to write any more community guidelines.
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TTGS takes place at the Centre for Social Innovation’s two locations on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Tkaronto (Toronto) is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
We are very grateful to make use of this space and hope to learn from, and integrate, Indigenous knowledge and values into these events.
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Both the CSI Annex and CSI Spadina locations are accessible.
720 Bathurst St.
The ground floor of CSI Annex is fully accessible for mobility devices. Guests will enter through the south-east door – the entrance is equipped with a lift.
192 Spadina Ave.
CSI Spadina’s ground floor is fully accessible with a ramp at the main entrance and a lift on the south side of the building located in the laneway between 192 and 190 Spadina.
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Please read in a very serious voice:
*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.*
Our NETWORK
Wanna work with us? Message us to talk about partnering and sponsorship!
Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)
The Centre for Social Innovation is a hub for people working for people and planet. With two co-working, meeting room and events locations in downtown Toronto and member programming, they’re a perfect place find space, make connections, and make impact. We’re very, very happy to host our swaps at CSI!
Fashion Revolution campaigns for a clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry. We team up with Fashion Revolution Canada’s Toronto branch to help support #FashionRevolutionWeek.
Remake
Remake is a nonprofit with a mission to get women in the clothing industry paid fairly. As a Remake Ambassador we help share their work and support the #nonewclothes pledge each year!
Toronto Climate Action Network (TCAN)
TCAN is a network of over 40 climate action organizations working in Toronto to prevent climate breakdown, strengthen climate resilience, and advance climate justice.