Clothing Swap comes to the Canal District
Admit it, you’re fed up with not being able to do
things because you can’t afford it. Those Decemberists tickets you want so much? Too bad, you need milk. That night out with your husband? Ha! Oh, and that cute new skirt you saw in the window … just forget it.
But wait. A revolution is about to happen to both your closet and wallet on May 30, and it’s called the Canal District Clothing Swap. The concept is easy. Bring in a bag of clothing, accessories or shoes you’re ready to part with — making sure they’re in excellent condition — and when you come back a few hours later, you’ll gleefully discover sorted tables of items for you to stuff into your bag and skip home with. For free. No cash, no transactions, no worries.
Don’t believe me? Ask Punky. She’s the beautiful brain behind the whole project. The 28-year-old Punky, aka Amy Chase, is a former painting and interior design student who currently works double duty as a credit manager in Shrewsbury and as bartender at The Lucky Dog. Born and raised in Worcester, Punky comes from a long line of collectors. “We love old stuff,” she says. “I just grew up with antiques all over the house, and going to flea markets collecting old items.” After buying a house here in the city, Punky was looking for a way to give back to the community without donating money (“since I didn’t have any”), and hence the swap idea came to life.
Teaming up with The Nostalgia Exchange at 138 Green St./Crompton Place within the heart of the revitalized Canal District, Punky has a few simple rules. From 11 a.m.-12 p.m., drop off a bag of clothes, accessories or shoes (think quality not quantity) to The Nostalgia Exchange. Next, take a stroll around the Canal District while Punky and her volunteers sort ’em all out (she’ll give you a map with things to do and coupons to do it with). From 1-4 p.m., return to select clothes you want to take home. It’s that easy.
“It’s just like a shopping trip with your girl friends, but it’s free,” Punky says. “I don’t get anything out of it, besides new clothes and new friends.”
As the clothing swap begins to give Punky a name within Worcester fashion circles (don’t laugh, they exist), the spunky girl has more up her vintage sleeve. Over at her popular blog punkystyle.com, you can learn about her upcoming traveling adventure, the Haberdash, where her 1954 vintage Bellwood Aloha trailer will morph into a hip mobile vintage boutique. “I will be revealing her at the Dive Bar on June 11 and then attending markets and music festivals with her all summer,” as Punky tells it. Her other side project is theswapaholics.com, which is a clothing swap-hosting service that she’s working on with the creators of Shoestring Magazine.
In today’s economy, a swap sounds like just the ticket for a little networking, fun and fashion. Details: The Canal District Clothing Swap, Saturday, May 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 138 Green St./Crompton Place. Drop-off 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Swap from 1-4 p.m. A map will be provided with information on boutiques and restaurants in the Canal District offering special deals for swappers. Didn’t bring a bag of clothing? Buy a reusable bag and fill it up for $10 (net proceeds benefit a local charity). Get the full outfit at punkystyle.com/clothing-swap.
