For entering a Swap-O-Rama-
Rama participants bring a bag of
clothes. All garbs are collected into a
big pile where everyone can rummage
through to find material to work on or
reform. In Istanbul, all participants
got a bracelet as an entry ticket to show
that they added a bag of clothes to the
commons of the event (far left). The
emphasis during the event is on redesign-
ing the clothes, not simply swapping. All
machinery and accessories are shared at
the event and the participants experi-
ment with their creations. They also got
special swap-labels (right).helps out at a distance through her website and has
special shared mailing lists for organizers. They send
her information and images of the events that are
uploaded to the Swap-O-Rama-Rama website, which
has global curriculum of upcoming events.
The Swap-O-Rama-Rama is in itself a public clothes
swap and do-it-yourself workshop where partici-
pants come to swap clothes and modify them on the
spot with the help of designers and friends. The en-
trance ticket is to bring a bag of clothes that will be
added to the pool of shared garment resources. In
the space where the workshop takes place, an infra-
structure of sewing machines and other equipment
is assembled. For events in the United States,
Tremayne has organized sponsorship of sewing ma-
chines where a company also pays for the shipping of
the borrowed machines to and from the event. Par-
ticipants and invited designers are encouraged to
bring their own resources to be shared. For the event
in Istanbul we used sewing machines from the gal-
lery as well as asking participants to bring their own
machines. Some visitors brought bags of old buttons
and applications that were put in a large box for eve-
ryone to use. For the event we had printed labels
reading “Modified by me / Ben Yaptim” – following
the motto of Swap-O-Rama-Rama – “Don’t Com-
modify – Modify!”
The swaps are big public events, often gathering over
a thousand visitors, all sharing clothes, skills and
ideas to create new skins out of the old ones. A tem-
porary coalition of designers and amateurs is formed,
materializing ideas and bringing new forms out of
discarded objects, although many visitors simply
come to enjoy the creative atmosphere.
The Swap-O-Rama-Rama method itself follows a
very simple procedure for the participant. It can be
summed up like this.- As a visitor, bring at least one bag of your
unwanted clothing – this is your entrance ticket to
the event. - When entering, put your clothes in the collective
pile of clothing with all the unwanted garments of all
who are going to take part in the event. This is the
raw material of the event, and everyone is welcome
to dive in and find his or her next new/used items. - After you have chosen your new clothes slip over
to one of the sewing stations and attend a workshop
(sew, embroider, print, bead, fix, repair, knit). - Swap-O-Rama-Rama also offers on site DIY ses-
sions with skilled artists to help you get started. You’ll
find professional designers with sewing machines
ready to teach you how to make modifications to
your new/used duds. - Prepare yourself for the catwalk that will present
the highlights from the Swap.