“Be good. Be green. Be glam!” This is the fitting motto of Potrero Hill resident Suzanne Agasi’s Clothing Swaps, in which people swap clothes, shoes and accessories that they no longer use.  Clothing Swaps enable participants to recycle items they no longer need and refresh their wardrobe at little cost. “We wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time,” said Agasi.

A recent swap, Swappo de Mayo, took place last month at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House.  Swaps are typically attended by women between 20 and 50 years of age. However, Agasi is considering organizing swaps catering to teens.  “Clothes swaps are designed to be fun,” explained Agasi. “The first hour is for girls to socialize and get to know each other.”  Cocktails, snacks, and professional massages are provided. “I really support what Suzanne is doing,” said Roen DeLeon, a massage therapist. “It’s fun for everyone involved, and it supports local charities.”

At the Potrero Hill swap, Agasi, a petite, energetic, friendly woman who makes everyone feel welcome, was dressed in a red tank-top and skirt with a red fringe, both of which she got from friends at different clothing swaps.  While the roughly 30 participants were socializing, volunteers laid out the clothes, with shoes on one table, sweaters on another, pants on still another.  Dozens of colorful dresses hung from a rack.  Free-standing mirrors along the wall allowed swappers to try things on and see how they looked. Agasi asked that everyone try on the clothes they were thinking about taking before they left, so that they didn’t end up with garments that wouldn’t be worn.

Most of Agasi’s swaps are held at bars or nightclubs, where they can attract more than a hundred people. “It’s usually a lot crazier, with girls screaming and clothes flying,” said Kai Wilson, a seasoned swapper. “I like this, though. It has a really chill vibe.”

The clothing swaps started at Agasi’s house with a couple of friends in 1994. “I liked having people over and being social,” said Agasi. “More and more people started coming to the swaps at my house.”  She decided to make it an event, and at this point has organized more than 200 swaps. Agasi donates leftover clothing to local charities, such as Casa de las Madres, a domestic violence shelter for women and children, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which raises funds to fight against breast cancer.

The clothes at Agasi’s swaps are always clean and in good condition; some have designer labels.  Clothes that have rips, tears, or are unusable are removed. A $20 to $30 entry fee is charged; Agasi calls it a “fashion stimulus.”  Once in, participants can select as many different clothes, shoes, and accessories as they like.

Information about the Clothing Swaps, including where and when the next one is happening, can be found at www.clothingswap.com. There’s also a how-to guide for anyone who wants to organize their own swap on the website.