Western Sydney University is taking the step towards change, targeting fast fashion with an on-campus swap event aimed at reshaping the perception of how people share, care, and show up for one another amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
Written by Precella Ishac
24/08/2025
“Our goal with the WSU Clothes and Resources Swap is to build a culture of care and collective action on campus.” Dr Jenna Condie, swap event organiser, co-lead festival of action, and senior lecturer in digital society at Western Sydney University says.
Hosting a free Clothes and Resources Swap event aimed at promoting sustainability, as the fashion industry faces growing scrutiny over its environmental impact, rising costs, and throw-away culture.
Held in the Janice Reid Pavilion at the Parramatta South campus, the initiative encouraged students and staff to exchange pre-loved clothing and essential items.
“We’re a student-staff team working together to support university communities through the encouraging shifts in consumption through reuse and repair, and creating space to learn hands-on skills like mending, weaving, and upcycling,” she says.
According to an article by Clean Up Australia, Australia is now the second-highest consumer of textiles per person in the world, with each Australian disposing an average of 23 kilograms of clothing to landfill each year, resulting in textile waste that is one of the country's largest waste problems.
The event is helping to tackle this problem, offering an impactful solution by giving things a second life and making a difference one item at a time.
SWAP EVENT - JANICE REID PAVILION, WSU PARRAMATTA SOUTH CAMPUS, IMAGE BY PRECELLA ISHAC
The pavilion was transformed into a community-driven space filled with tables of goods, creative workshops, panels, and a plant-based lunch.
“The swap creates a space for important conversations and learning more about the climate crisis. Swapping is a practical, accessible, and joyful way to activate and sustain communities for social and climate justice. We’re also researching the swap to understand its impact better and to inform future initiatives,” Dr Condie says.