That’s when the 32-year-old decided to do her part to reduce the environmental damage caused by the industry. In 2018, she founded The Swap Project to encourage the exchange of pre-loved clothes.
Chong, who works in marketing in the retail industry, decided to set up the platform after a friend invited her to pick out some pre-loved items provided by another friend who was migrating overseas.
“That sparked the idea since we had all these clothes with us,” she tells FMT.
Chong kicked off The Swap Project by organising events at several locations in the Klang Valley. She also set up a temporary physical store in Sunway Velocity Mall in Kuala Lumpur, which will be used to host monthly events until January.
The items for swapping, such as tops, bottoms, dresses, bags, shoes, accessories as well as menswear, must be clean and in a good condition.
Those interested can sign up with a registration fee of RM30. Participants must bring five items on the day of the event and, in return, can take home a maximum of 15 items.
The limit was imposed to discourage hoarding, Chong says, explaining that some people had previously brought luggage with them, leaving insufficient items for those who came later.
According to her, the majority of participants at the events are those who practise a sustainable lifestyle.
“There are also those who are new to the concept and want to give it a try,” she says, adding that people donate to The Swap Project as they don’t want their clothes to end up in landfills.
Chong reveals that the project’s first event drew zero participation. Nevertheless, she pressed on undeterred, and the number of participants increased with every subsequent swap-meet.
“Our third one was held at a cafe. So many people brought so many clothes that we occupied all 20 tables!”
One of the biggest misconceptions about pre-loved clothing is that they are dirty.
“That’s not true at all because they are washed beforehand,” says Chong, who screens all the items they receive.
There are also those who think they won’t find items of good quality in a clothes swap.
“You’d be surprised – you can even get branded items if you’re lucky,” Chong says. “But clothes swapping is not about hunting for gems; it’s about adopting a more sustainable lifestyle by reducing the consumption of fast fashion.”
Those who want to experiment with a different style should also take advantage of these events as they can always swap the clothing back if they change their mind.
At the end of the day, Chong says she won’t tell anybody to stop buying clothes.
“But instead of buying fast fashion, they should opt for sustainable clothing brands,” she says.
“Good-quality products last longer and don’t end up in landfills so quickly. And by doing so, we’re also sending a message to the fast-fashion industry.”
To get updates on future events, join The Swap Project on Telegram. Also check out its website, and Facebook and Instagram profiles.