Introducing SFW Hub: Hackney
One of our amazing London Hubs this year is from QueerSwap representing Hackney! QueerSwap is a non-profit community driven initiative founded in 2023 by Sierra and Nyx Raposo that combines sustainability, creativity and queer identity.
We chat to Sierra about all things Queer Swap and their plans for SFW 2025!
Who’s behind Queer Swap?
Sierra: “Our team is led by Sierra & Nyx Raposo, the co-founders and executive directors of QueerSwap, with support from our directors Amelie Thomas-Green, Pauline Jeremie, and Victoria Aurora Bennett-Salvador. Our events are made possible with the help of a large team of incredible volunteers from our community! QueerSwap was formed in early 2023 with just a small community clothing swap. At that time only Sierra and Nyx were involved, and we had a turnout of about 30-40 people. Now we have had the privilege of working with great cultural institutions like the National Maritime Museum, Tate Modern, and host events with up to 325 guests! We’ve expanded from just clothing swaps to book swaps, upcycling workshops, mending workshops, and more.”
What’s your background? What led you to create Queer Swap?
“The QueerSwap team comes from all sorts of backgrounds! Sierra and Nyx are well known event producers in the LGBTQ+ community. We saw a need for sustainability centred events for queer folks, and took the leap to make it happen. Neither of us were event producers before this. Sierra worked in sales and business development, and as a hobbyist costume designer for amateur theatre. Nyx works as a Cloud Systems Developer, and provided substantial financial support for our venture to take off. Our Directors have background as environmental consultants, in planning, research, DE&I, and marketing.”
Have you taken part in any other sustainability focused initiatives?
“Through QueerSwap, we’ve run a bunch of mending and upcycling workshops, and we try to keep clothing in circulation for as long as possible. Our volunteer sewists frequently offer free minor mending and alterations at our swaps. Any leftover clothes from our swaps get passed on to other community organisations like the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre, Give Your Best CIC, and the Bent Bars Project. We’re also looking to work with the Islington Climate Centre to bring more climate education into queer spaces, which feels like a really important next step for us. At some events, like our collab with Riposte or Metro Transcend, people can buy swap tokens and the proceeds go to good causes like The Outside Project, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ crisis shelter, or support groups for trans youth.
Accessibility is a big part of what we do too. When we can, we try to ensure our spaces are wheelchair accessible. We also try to offer a covid-safer hour where everyone wears FFP2 masks with support from Breathe Easy LDN, and it's been especially appreciated by folks who are immunocompromised or more covid-conscious. We also run a group chat akin to Freecycle/Buy Nothing/Trash Nothing where people can give away or swap stuff that doesn't really fit into our regular events, things like furniture, food, or electronics.”
Do you have any guiding principles as an organisation?
“Queer people have always pushed the boundaries of fashion, and QueerSwap makes space for that exploration in a way that is accessible, supportive and sustainable. For queer people, this often goes far beyond a simple style change. It’s not just “I want to wear more colour” or “I’m trying out balletcore.” It can be the first time someone tries on clothing that they feel truly aligns with their identity.
We organise clothing by type, such as t-shirts, dresses, jumpers and trousers, instead of by gender. This encourages people to think beyond the binary and choose what feels right for them. Clothing doesn’t have a gender, and we want people to feel free to explore their style without restriction. We also create safer spaces where queer folks can try on clothing without fear of judgement. And because everything is swapped, it’s a relatively low-risk way to try something new. You can take something home, see how it feels, and if it doesn’t work for you, just bring it back next time. It’ll find a new home with someone else who needs it.
We’ve seen trans women take home bags of dresses to explore what shapes and styles suit them best. We’ve seen trans men find a binder that fits and helps them feel comfortable in form-fitting clothes. One of the most beautiful experiences we have had in running our clothing swaps is witnessing the euphoria people experience when they finally find something that feels right for them.”
What’s your aim for taking part in SFW?
“We hope to bring more attention to the way that textile waste is driving climate change, support the creatives in our community who are delivering alternatives to fast fashion, and show folks that being sustainable can be fun with a variety of activities and games to encourage people to think outside the box about how things can be reused, restyled, and reimagined.”
How can people Reclaim Fashion?
“Reclaiming fashion means giving power back to individuals and communities, especially those who have been left out of mainstream fashion. It is about creating something more meaningful, sustainable, and affirming in its place. It is about rebuilding the systems around how we access clothing, choosing to swap, share, repair, and support one another instead of being caught in the constant churn of fast fashion.”
Quick Fire Questions
What piece of advice would you recommend to someone trying to change their fashion habits for the better?
“Utilise social media and apps as much as possible. Put together Pinterest boards for clothes you want/need and then hunt for them on Vinted, in charity shops, car boot sales, and at clothing swaps. Follow instagram accounts for sustainable fashion experts and thrifters and learn from them. The key thing is really about changing your mindset - try as much as possible to avoid trends and instead find your own personal style. See clothes as a lifelong investment.” - Pauline Jeremie AKA PJ
“Seconding what PJ said, I think apps are incredibly helpful! A lot of my friends have taken to using the app Whering to create a digital closet where we can see all of our clothing and accessories in one spot. It makes it so much easier to see what you already have, keep track of what needs repairing, what you want to take to swaps, and when I am considering making a purchase or bringing something home from a swap, I can put together a little collage to see how well it aligns with what I already have. I also love using Pinterest and other platforms for inspiration on how to update or improve clothing I already have.” - Sierra Raposo
Which issue do you feel is the most important to address in the fashion industry?
I think one of the biggest issues in the fashion industry is overconsumption. There's so much pressure to constantly buy more, and that’s really driven by capitalism and fast fashion’s endless trend cycles. People end up feeling like they’re falling behind if they’re not always getting something new. It creates a huge amount of waste, unnecessary production, and a lot of exploitation behind the scenes. I think a good first step is helping people see how they’re being pushed into that mindset and start questioning the systems that make constant consumption feel normal. - Sierra Raposo
What is your top tip for those new to consuming fashion sustainably?
If you are finding it hard to step away from trends or to stop buying clothing exclusively for special occasions, consider renting or borrowing clothing instead of purchasing it new. - Sierra Raposo
What is your favourite wardrobe staple?
I love a pair of comfortable, durable, easy-to-clean white sneakers as they match almost everything and provide good foot support. Not quite clothing, but my Loop earplugs and my noise cancelling headphones are also a staple for public transport and noisy city life. I’ve always got them on me. - Sierra Raposo
I’ve got a leather jacket I purchased at a vintage shop in Lisbon a couple of years ago. It goes well with almost any outfit and I wear it all the time. It’s one of those wardrobe pieces that you just can’t go wrong with. I think a really good quality pair of sunglasses is a good investment piece, too. I like polarized aviators. They never really go out of style and protect your eyes. - Nyx Raposo
You can learn more about QueerSwap via their website here.
View the programme of activities taking place around Hackney here.