UpcycleSLO will be hosting Swap-o-Rama-Rama, an interactive event including a clothing swap and do-it-yourself workshops and demonstrations, this Saturday at Laguna Middle School. The event aims to promote the reusing of clothes to create original pieces.
Jennifer Alexander, pioneer of UpcycleSLO and San Diego State University alumna, founded the creative collective group with friend Sara McGrath in November 2009. The group’s purpose derives from the term coined ‘upcycling,’ which is the process of converting unwanted materials into new, creative items without leaving a carbon footprint.
“Instead of recycling, which takes a lot of energy and resources, upcycling doesn’t. You just take something and recreate it,” Alexander said.
With her new club in its grassroots stage and new ideas surfacing, Alexander came across Swap-o-Rama-Rama in a friend’s book titled “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.” After contacting Wendy Tremayne, creator of Swap-o-Rama-Rama, Alexander signed on and became San Luis Obispo’s first Swap-o-Rama-Rama coordinator.
“I wanted this event to be here because I wanted to go to this event,” Alexander said. “And, I thought, if I want to go to this event, then I’ll have to do it!”
Tremayne started Swap-o-Rama-Rama in 2004 in New York City after taking time off work and re-considering her place as a consumer. After having a few clothing swaps at friends’ houses that soon included sewing machine and crafts, she saw innovation start to blossom both in creativity and sustainability. So, she decided to take the swap to a larger scale.
“I was considering the concept of value and looking at commodifying culture and wondering about the issues around consumerism,” Tremayne said. “The maker is what we’re losing — what we’ve lost. This event is bringing people back to an experience to remind people that they’re makers.”
After deciding to get a Creative Commons license for the event, Tremayne was able to essentially “give away” her idea to all who wanted to host a Swap-o-Rama-Rama, both for profit and nonprofit.
Attendees for San Luis Obispo’s event must bring a pile of unwanted clothes and/or textiles, such as bed sheets and pillowcases. They are also encouraged to bring extra sewing supplies. All other supplies, such as crafts and sewing tools, are being donated from local craft stores and consignment shops such as Curio in San Luis Obispo and the Cotton Ball in Morro Bay. Rob Appell, co-owner of the Cotton Ball, is excited for the community to use the nine sewing machines that his company is lending out. And although the machines will be for sale, that is not his intent for supporting the Swap-o-Rama-Rama.
“So many people are doing recycling of things, and we support that,” Appell said. “My goal was to not overwhelm the community, and to really be there to support the program to help out with the machines and not sell, sell, sell — that really turns my stomach.”
All proceeds from San Luis Obispo’s event are supporting EcoSLO, a local nonprofit organization focused on the protection and enhancement of the environment. Alexander also hopes that this event will serve as a business opportunity to help get UpcycleSLO’s name out.
“We’re trying to get our name out there by teaching people the joys of being creative,” Alexander said.
The event will feature classroom workshops ranging from Basic Sewing and Tension to Pillowcase Possibilities, each led by an experienced local artist who will show attendees how to alter textiles to create new original pieces. Cory Anderson, who will be leading the Accessories Galore workshop, wants participants to realize the simplicity of reusing.
“We always want to go out and buy stuff. Trendy stuff you find at places like Urban Outfitters are actually really easy to make yourself,” Anderson said.
Experienced crafters as well as first time creators are welcome to the event, which will also have demonstrations on knitting, crocheting, jewelry making and others. And kids are welcome, too. Cuesta College student Karen Silva will be hosting a kids’ hour, where she will teach children how to make super hero costumes.
“It’s really awesome to introduce kids to this way of life at such a young age, so I thought that would be really fun,” Silva said. “Kids are hilarious, so I’m excited to see what they’ll come up with. I can’t wait to see them running around in the things they’ve made.”
Aside from workshops and demonstrations, the event will have open tables, sewing supplies, screen-printing machines and sewing machines for those who want to experiment with altering clothes. A fashion show will also be held to show off upcycled garments. And with a supply of more than 1,000 pounds of recycled clothes, Alexander said the possibilities are endless.
“When you create something and you wear it, you feel it’s unique. You’re proud of it, and you’re more likely to keep it. I just feel like we should be making a change back to our roots and doing more stuff for ourselves,” Alexander said.
Tremayne said she hopes her idea will continue to promote environmental awareness as consumers as well as creativity in reusing. As Swap-o-Rama-Ramas are now being held all around the world, Tremayne said she hopes her deeper message will be reused, too.
“What consumerism takes from us is our creativity, which connects us to our community,” Tremayne said.
The event will be held from 1-6 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available for $5 by calling Jennifer at (619) 807-7006 or $10 at the door. Raffle tickets will also be for sale for $1 each.