Spend National Secondhand Wardrobe Day at The Element Hotels Exchange Clothing Swap

Spend National Secondhand Wardrobe Day at The Element Hotels Exchange Clothing Swap
image via Element Hotels/Instagram

Element Hotels, leaders in eco-friendly accommodations for the conscious traveler, are hosting The Element Exchange pop-up experience to encourage communities to participate in exchanging, rather than shopping for clothes on National Secondhand Wardrobe Day.

National Secondhand Wardrobe Day is observed annually across America on August 25th in an attempt to bring awareness to the issue of widespread clothing waste. If you’re looking for a  way to participate in cutting down on clothing waste and making fewer fast fashion purchases, then we suggest heading down to secondhand stores in your neighborhood, or, better yet, participating in a clothing swap, like The Element Exchange taking place at all Element Hotels across the United States.  

According to Marlon Whyte, Global Brand Leader for Element Hotels, the brand’s mission is geared toward “promoting balance and wellness to our eco-savvy guests.” There are currently 32 hotels across the globe, with 84 more in development, and they’re the perfect retreat for conscious, healthy, active, travelers on extended stays.

The Element Exchange experience — the pop-up clothing swap — is a practical and creative solution, especially since, according to Whyte, “Clothes are one of the most frequent items purposefully left behind in hotel rooms.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “85 percent of all discarded textiles – 13 million tons – are sent to U.S. landfills every year.  In addition, it takes 2,700 liters of water to make one cotton t-shirt. That is enough for one person to stay hydrated for 900 days,” Whyte notes.

With millions of tons of discarded clothing and textiles each year,  The Element Exchange felt that through the brand’s commitment to its “sustainable and health-conscious mission and roots,” raising awareness of this “massive environmental impact” is the logical choice.

For those who wish to attend, Whyte said of the Element Boston Seaport location, “attendees will be able to enjoy sustainable bites in the courtyard and sample organic wine through a sustainable and automated wine cart while they ‘shop’.”

And beyond the perks of conscious tastings, “The event will see Boston-based clothing upcycling partners helping guests give their items of clothing a new life. Ministry of Supply, Boston-founded maker of performance dress clothes that supplies underprivileged adults with clothing for the workplace and job interviews, will be on-site for attendees interested in shopping and upcycling through their one-in, one-out initiative.”

The Element Exchange pop-up experience is is taking place at every Element Hotel across the U.S. and does not require you to be a guest of the hotel.

“Element Hotels are very committed to helping to reduce clothing waste while educating guests and locals alike on the effects of fast fashion on the environment,” says Whyte. “The donation bins that we will be setting up as part of the Element Exchange will remain in all of our hotels in perpetuity, giving guests and locals the opportunity to continue to dispose of their clothes in a sustainable manner after the event is finished.”

When it comes to what attendees should bring to the clothing swap, Whyte says they will “welcome any type of garment, textile or clothing that is in good condition.” Now is the perfect time to discover some new fall pieces, or run into something that will be perfect for next summer.

We suggest getting a small group of your friends on board, because the more variety in your dress sizes, the better, and making a day (or overnight) of it. Clothes, wine, and good friends together with Element Hotels for a good cause…what’s not to love?

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Jamie Duncan

After starting out in public relations, Jamie finished college with a BFA in interior design. This combination of writing and design knowledge, coupled with her fashion and lifestyle expertise, has paved the way for an exciting freelance career. Her work has been published in magazines and online, plus she’s managed PR campaigns, and is no stranger to copywriting. Jamie’s a vegetarian and cruelty-free product fanatic. Connect with her on Twitter and check out her website to learn more.