Visa Picks Up On Swap Trend

Visa is getting behind the fashion swapping phenomenon by launching "the biggest swap event yet."  Like we’ve said before, these events are a great opportunity to score some new gear, recycle some old cr*p, and make some new friends.  As predicted, the trend is catching on and has now gained some new corporate sponsorship.

Press release:

VISA SWAP’ is a 3 week pop-up swap shop opening on London’s Brompton Road. A collaboration between Visa and TRAID to ‘encourage sustainable fashion through ethical swapping’, this promises to be the biggest swap event yet. Drop off your old clothes in the first 2 weeks (from May 31st ‘07) and in return you get a Visa Swap chip card which is charged with redeemable points. The more expensive your donated item is, the more points you earn. Then on the 3rd weekend (16th & 17th June ‘07) it’s Party Time: you can spend all your points on other items in the pop-up store! Kylie, Phoebe Philo and Giles Deacon have already dropped off their old clothes! And as if that’s not exciting enough, there’ll be customizing workshops as well as stylists and hair and make up artists on hand to make you look even more beautiful in your new free clothes!

The credit card company twist is an interesting one as they’re providing the method, or replacement, of payment.  Is it really shopping if you’re using "points" instead of cash?  Is Visa facilitating the swap process and truly fostering community and ethical practices; or merely turning it into another form of spending?  Andrew Currie offers some thoughts.  PR move or benevolent act?  You decide…

Regardless, if you’re in the area, check it out.  You might just walk away with some pre-worn celebrity garments, if you’re into that kind of thing.