Cumbrian woman runs clothes swaps to reduce fashion waste

Celestina Mahovic has organised free Clothes Swap Cumbria events across the county for about a decade to promote buying second-hand and cut fashion waste, and the gatherings have helped build a local sense of community.

Celestina Mahovic has run Clothes Swap Cumbria for about a decade to highlight how swapping or buying second-hand clothing can reduce fashion waste. She is a 37-year-old quantity surveyor from Carlisle and said the swaps have created a sense of community. The free events take place across the county in community centres and in people's homes and offer an alternative to buying new items. Mahovic began attending clothes swaps in Manchester and has spoken about learning how fast fashion affects the environment. What we know: - Clothes Swap Cumbria has been organised by Celestina Mahovic for about ten years. - The events are free and are held across the county in community centres and private homes. - The initiative aims to reduce fashion waste by encouraging swapping and buying second-hand clothes. - Mahovic began going to swaps in Manchester and has described learning about the environmental impact of fast fashion. - The BBC's Hacks and Hustles series highlighted money-saving stories in January, and a 2024 study recorded an increase in side hustles in the UK, from 383,000 to 460,000. Summary: The swaps have helped build local community and provide a lower-cost, second-hand option while aiming to reduce fashion waste. The initiative continues to run events across Cumbria, and further developments are undetermined at this time.