A new wave of sustainable fashion is sweeping across the UK, thanks to CLOSWAP, an app that makes trading clothes as easy as swiping. Often described as the “Tinder for Clothes,” this innovative platform is transforming wardrobes without the need to spend money.
Imagine a world where instead of purchasing a brand-new outfit, you simply trade for one. That was the vision behind CLOSWAP, created by three university students struggling to afford constant wardrobe upgrades.
What began as an experimental clothes-swapping event on campus, attended by hundreds of students, has grown into a national movement. CLOSWAP is now the UK’s leading peer-to-peer clothing swap platform, making fashion more circular and accessible.
After witnessing the popularity of their first event, the three founders realised their idea had huge potential. Unable to keep up with the costs of new fashion themselves, they decided to launch CLOSWAP as a full-scale business. Today, the app has more than 20,000 users, with plans to expand even further.
“At CLOSWAP, we want the pace, price, and practicality of fast fashion to be matched by swapping,” says co-founder Maria Remy.
“That’s why we host events and built the app. It’s fast, engaging, and free, with the added bonus of building an IRL community. For students like us, it’s not just about fashion—it’s about giving everyone the opportunity to constantly upgrade their wardrobe without spending money, EVER. You already have the currency; it’s in your closet!”
The app is rapidly growing, with in-person swap events set to take place in Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Birmingham. These events, complete with live music and interactive activities, bring the CLOSWAP experience into the real world. Meanwhile, the app’s Karma Points system keeps the swapping process engaging and rewarding.
With the average Brit wearing an item just seven times before discarding it, CLOSWAP aims to rewrite fashion habits by giving clothes a second and third life. By connecting wardrobes across the UK, the platform is proving that sustainable fashion can also be fun and accessible.
Having won the 2024 Mayor of London’s Entrepreneurship Award for Creative Industries, CLOSWAP is now firmly established as a leader in circular fashion. The team, now part of several startup accelerators and recognised as a Resolution Fellow, is preparing for further expansion while raising their seed round under the SEIS advanced assurance scheme.
