Dana King – Shoppers are taking a break though, but there is a way to change up your wardrobe without breaking the bank. On the Consumer Watch Jeanette Pavini explains how women are filling up their closets through fashion swaps.
Jeanette Pavini – They come for relaxing massages. To get their hair done, and make-up too. As well as to socialize and enjoy good wine and delicious food. But the real draw to this nightclub in San Francisco isn’t any of these treats – its shopping in the form of SWAPPING.
Francis Amella, Swapper – “I brought a dress that’s real sixties.”
Francis will be turning in the clothes she no longer needs in the hopes of swapping them for… “Maybe a blazer, a dress, a couple of tops…” And she’s come to the right place.
Suzanne Agasi, Founder Clothing Swap, Inc – “Hi Everyone thanks for coming tonight.”
It’s the Clothing Swap run by Suzanne Agasi. "Women clean out their closets and they bring any item they no longer wear or use. Clothes, shoes, purses from work-out wear to fancy dresses and suits. We have sorters that sort the items by category, it’s like a boutique. While the sorting is taking place women can have two hours of unlimited spa treatments."
And after two hours of being pampered these curtains will be open and the women will start to swap.
Curtains open and women yell happily as they begin to look for new treasures.
And what these eighty women are about to discover is that what some women are willing to ditch from their closet it is truly another woman’s treasure.
Swapper – “I got a great Coach bag. I’ve gotten a really great leather jacket and some Seven jeans.”
But it’s not just the women here tonight that are the winners. All of the clothes left over go to a great cause. Christina Castillo, La Casa Women's Shelter – “A lot of the women that come into our shelter only have the clothing on their back.”
Christina works with a La Casa Women’s Shelter – a non-profit that provides shelter for 10,000 women a year. Women flee from an abusive relationship. And for women like Stephanie Gruelle who was in an abusive marriage.
Stephanie Gruelle, Clothing Swap Attendee – “I can’t help but want to support that and get free clothes for doing it. It’s a win win!”
For everyone, including Francis. “It’s a brand new dress, its probably never been worn. It’s got the tags as you can see (Francis turns red dress around to reveal a white price tag.)” She scored boots, this floral dress, and a Liz Claiborn sweater. And there was still plenty left over for the women at La Casa Shelter. Francis – “Its going to a good cause, I love it, I had a GREAT time.”Jeanette Pavini – CBS 5 Consumer Watch
