Local organizers host community-driven clothing swap

Welcome back, if you're looking for a fun way to support the community or just freshen up your wardrobe, look no further because tomorrow, Sunday the 18th, a community-driven clothing swap and shop is happening at Obet Brewing. And this morning, we are joined by Kristen Watts and Lisa Fosnott. Thank you so much for coming on. You guys are organizing this event. Tell us what it's all about. yeah so we're three people we come together we're small business owners and we come together three times a year to put on a clothing swap and community events events in general but this is a clothing swap that we do three times a year where people can bring five pieces of clothing and they hang it up and then when we all go together you can pick five pieces of clothing to go home with we also have local vendors there that we spotlight women-owned businesses so So it's like a swap and shop kind of experience. Okay, and this is benefiting Seattle's Elizabeth Gregory Home? Correct. Can you tell us about the Elizabeth Gregory Home for anybody that doesn't know? Yeah, they are an organization that helps women that are dealing with homelessness or trauma in that transitional stage where they have like a day shelter and then also can provide temporary housing in the interim. Also they have all the supplies available there, clothing, they have a full kitchen, computer room, just a great place, safe place for them to go to while they're just transitioning from housing or not housing. I love it. I think everybody at home probably has five things in their closet that they love, but they don't wear anymore or that maybe they bought and don't love anymore. So what other types, so we're bringing our five clothing items. Does it matter if they are like gently used or do you want new items? What's that like? I mean, we're saying like Bring your five favorite things that you used to love that had like all of these stories. Maybe you wore it to Europe, but it doesn't fit anymore. Yeah. If you give it to somebody else, it has a new life and maybe it can go to Europe again. I love that. I love that you can just trade things for this. You don't even have to bring any money, but there are going to be vendors there. Tell us about the other vendors that are going to be there. We have five vendors joining us. Again, all female run businesses. We have Tough as Tatas at Pottery. We have Tough Times. She does really cool like yarn work art pieces like for wall hangings. We have Just Little Guys, which is like really cute magnets. We have Passiflora Therapy, which she's gonna be doing some grounding exercises for people that need some grounding. Did I get everybody? Yeah, I mean, the vendors are always different, so it's kind of like, who do we have this I hope I didn't miss somebody, sorry. Candles and just home goods and just things that you could purchase. If you have the space, I'm a professional organizer. So I'm always thinking of that kind of stuff, right? Do you need it? I do actually. No, but I'm thinking I always feel like Halloween is the kickoff to the holiday season. So you start Christmas shopping and it's nice to buy people things that they can actually use and enjoy and then kick out of their space, like a candle. Yes. So who are you hoping shows up to this tomorrow? Everyone. Everyone, this event is for everybody. This is for everybody. So yeah. Yeah, it truly is for everybody, very open, welcoming. I think honestly the coolest part is the community. Yes, for sure. And people come consistently, they'll come all three times every year. Wonderful. And it's really cool to see people come back. We want people that need a professional organizer or a loan officer or The third person in our group is my sister Carrie Watt with Rooted Northwest Real Estate. She's not here today. Carrie, we miss you. She's working. How did you guys come up with this idea? We just wanted to have an event where we could showcase our businesses, but also bring in the community, which is a huge passion for all of us. So we're like, how do we do that? And we're like, why don't we support women? We're women in business, let's support women. I love that. And so bringing in the women-owned businesses, also supporting local spaces. So we just wanted to create that whole sense of inclusion and a safe place for people to just come and enjoy each other's company and hopefully leave with some new clothes. And you guys are giving back too, and you're cleaning out your closet. You're bringing home your stuff, you don't have to spend money or giving back. Okay, so it sounds amazing, the shop and swap at Obert Brewing in Ballard. It is from one to four tomorrow. If we need organization, we need a loan officer, very cool. Kristen, Lisa, thank you guys so much for coming on. Yes, thank you so much. Thank you so much for your time, Taylor. Nice to meet you. Loved it. Okay, we're going to have all that information up on our website as well. We'll be right back.