So you need to know what to bring - we're happy to accomodate! This is a women's only swap; also, we ask that clothes be in reasonable condition - no rips, tears, visible stains, etc. There are no minimum requirements for how many items you have to bring or how many you can take, but please be courteous and generous.

In addition to the appropriate-sized clothing (according to your group), you can also bring:

Accessories (in reasonable condition)

• Belts
• Shoes
• Jewelry
• Purses
• Scarves, hats, mittens

Other: the following aren't required, but you're certainly welcome to bring them!

• Full-length portable mirror (we can never have too many mirrors)
• Bags to carry your things home in (sorry, no bags provided)

So, what happens to the leftovers?

Excellent question, that is! Whatever's left over from any swap is gathered together and donated to people or places that give them to people or places. That is, they will not be sold for money - they will be given to those in need through churches, social service agencies, and other organizations that give to those in need.

(If you have an organization that needs free clothes, we may be able to help! Please email the swap nearest you for more information.)

Man, what's up with you all and money?

Another Jeopardy-worthy question! Here's the deal, straight from the keyboard of our beloved founder, Rae: PDXSwap is all about returning to a system of living where we barter and trade with each other, instead of having smelly paper and metal in between. Yup, money. We'd like to end money the way we know it! Let's all live happily in communities where we take care of each other. Where we combine skills and knowledge and resources to live a beautiful life in harmony with the planet!

After all, if we don't, we are all going to turn into plastic zombies living on a plastic planet. Seriously.

(Webmistress would like to add: that line about plastic zombies creeped me out. A friend sent me a link to something about how many women are injecting themselves with various forms of plastic to be "gorgeous," and they showed a picture of this woman who, I swear, had started to molt into Barbie because of all the injections and implants and fake tanning and whatever that crazy sheen she had going on her face was - she had spent more than $50,000 on that stuff.

Let's. Just. Stop.)

OK, mini-rants over. Still with us? Yes! We love you, too!

Want to learn more?

We're working on a completely awesome website called PerfectHarmony.us, which will help educate people on what we can do to stop killing ourselves and the planet and start moving toward a more harmonious lifestyle. Check back regularly and we promise to let you know when it's up & ready.

In the meantime, here are some really interesting resources to get you started:

*Go watch TheStoryOfYourStuff.com

*Google "plastic island" (don't freak out, there's still hope!)

*Google "western/esatern garbage patch" (Seriously, stop freaking out! This is to educate you so you can do something about it!)

*Check out Woody Harrelson & Laura Louie's website VoiceYourself.com

***Go outside and look around at mother earth. Don't freak. Just commit to change.***