FAQ
Please note: This is a cash only event.
What is the Fat Girl Clothing Swap?
Who's behind the Swap?
Where and when will the swap be?
Is the space accessible for people with mobility issues?
What kind of clothes will be there?
How much will clothes cost?
Where will my money go?
What will you do with clothes that aren't sold?
Why should I donate clothing?
How do I make a clothing donation?
Are men welcome?
Why should I participate in the Swap?
What is the Fat Girl Clothing Swap?
The Fat Girl Clothing Swap above everything else is an event designed for fat girls to have a great time and find clothes that make us feel fabulous. Cute clothes for fat girls can be hard to come by (especially in the Denver area!), but we all have clothes in our closets that will make someone feel great. We all have clothes in our closets that are too small or too big or we've worn as much as we want to that would bring joy to other fat girls. The Swap is also a chance to donate to a great cause that provides advocacy for fat people throughout the United States. What could better than supporting a great cause by shopping and having fun?
Who's behind the Swap
The Swap will ultimately be the culmination of the hard work and generosity of a lot of people, so right off the bat we want to say a big THANK YOU!! to everyone who donates their time, enthusiasm, resources and clothing to make the the Swap successful. The two primary organizers are:
Tina Arroyo is an artist an activist from New York and the Denver area. She uses photography to show the beauty and grace of fat women. Tina is one of the original organizers of the highly successful Fat Girl Flea Market in New York City and thought it would be a blast to find a way to bring a clothing swap to the Denver area.
Kimberly Pirtle is a Life Coach, Reiki Master Teacher, and Web Developer who specializes in helping people of all sizes celebrate who they are and live happy, abundant lives. She thought Tina's idea of throwing a big clothing party for fat girls and then giving the money to a fat activist charity was the best idea she ever heard and jumped in to help make it go.
Where and when will the swap be?
The Swap will be on November 11, 2007 from 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The space for the Swap was generously donated by the people at Capabilities™, an organization dedicated to finding unique and useful lifestyle products for health, comfort, and independence. They also pride themselves on being the "go to place" for resources and information on health, wellness and caregiving.
The address is:
6805 W. 88th Ave.
Westminster, CO 80021
720.214.0339
Directions from Denver
Directions from Boulder
You can plug in your own address in the "Start Address" field for more precise directions.
Is the space accessible for people with mobility issues?
The space has wide aisles, large bathrooms, and is fully accessible for those with mobility issues. We will also have volunteers that will help people carry their haul of cute clothes if they need it.
What kind of clothes will be there?
We are collecting t-shirts, blouses, tank tops, jeans, dress pants, casual pants, shorts, skirts, sleepware, bras, coats, jackets, dresses, and suits that are freshly laundered and in good condition, without stains are holes.
We are not accepting underwear, stockings, socks, shoes, or swimsuits.
How much will clothes cost?
A list of prices can be found on the prices page.
Where will my money go?
All procedes will go to the FLARE! project, an organization dedicated to helping those affected by weight discrimination.
What will you do with clothes that aren't sold?
We will be donating any clothes that aren't sold to a local women's shelter as they are typically in desperate need of plus size clothing.
Why should I donate clothing?
It wouldn't be much of a swap if everyone came to shop without donating! We all have clothes in our closets that are too small or too big or that we're tired of wearing. That shirt that you're just tired of could make someone else really happy. Those pants that you love but just don't fit any more could be worn every week by someone who they do fit. We can say from personal experience how liberating it is to dive into our closets and say, "I hate this shirt. It is GONE!" or "I love this skirt, but it just doesn't fit and I want someone to be able to wear it happily." Besides, if you get rid of all those clothes you don't wear, you're making that much more room to fill it with clothes you do!
How do I make a clothing donation?
Guidelines for clothing donation can be found here.
Are men welcome?
Men are definitely welcome and are encouraged to provide emotional support, carry things, and shop for the women in their lives.
Why should I participate in the Swap?
The real question is why wouldn't you? If you're still skeptical though, here are some great reasons to join in the fun:
- We will have gift bags with surprises and tons of resources for fat girls for the first 50 shoppers.
- You will find clothes from all your favorite stores at a tenth of the cost.
- We have several awesome raffle prizes that will include art, books, and services.
- You'll be able to get rid of clothes you don't wear to make room for fabulous new clothes that you will find at the Swap.
- All proceeds are going to a wonderful charity that is out there fighting for the rights of fat people in the United States.
- We will have a make-up station so you can get a beauty make-over with your new clothes.
- For those interested, we will be taking fashion photographs of shoppers in a new outfit and we will email you the pictures.
- It is going to be a blast! We'll have great music, dedicated volunteers who want you to look and feel fabulous, and plenty of cute clothes for any occasion.