Hordes of shoppers became swappers this week at Islington Council's first fashion exchange party. <br><br>The "Ditch'n'Switch" event, hosted at the council's Green Living Centre in trendy Upper Street, saw scores of people snapping up their favourite brands. <br><br>It's hot on the heels of an American craze called "swishing" – where fashion-lovers exchange unwanted items at parties. <br><br>Cllr Greg Foxsmith, Islington Council's Executive Member for Environment, said: "We're doing all we can to help our residents through the credit crunch – and this event was right on the money. <br><br>"We had dozens of happy customers who didn't pay a penny but walked off looking great in nearly-new clothes.<br><br>"And don't forget that this is great for the environment, too, because all these clothes are being re-used." <br><br>People brought between one and five items of clean, decent quality clothes to event. Unswapped items were donated to charity. <br><br>ENDS <br><br>For more information on this press release please call Chris Weeks on 020 7527 3032 <br><br>PICTURES: <br><br>SWAP01 "Suits you, madam": (Left-right) - Swappers Mel Wilson, a 27-year-old publishing editor; Cllr Greg Foxsmith, Islington Council's Executive Member for Environment; Safia Weeks, a 33-year-old environmental health officer; and Dorthe Bendtsen, a 32-year-old urban design consultant <br><br>SWAP02-Cllr Greg Foxsmith with swap assistant <br><br>SWAP03-06: Visitors to Islington's Green Living Centre, in Upper Street, N1, swap 'til they drop <br><br>NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS: More photos are available if you would like to use this tory sfor a picture spread
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009