Beginning as a final project for a course at the University of Minnesota, PILLLAR Forum Cafe & Bar hosted its first-ever clothing swap on Sunday in Northeast Minneapolis.
University of Minnesota student Noah Biasco organized the swap as his final project for his global studies class, SOC 3215 – Supercapitalism: Labor, Consumption & the Environment in the New Global Economy. Emphasizing sustainability and community, the clothing swap was held in partnership with his favorite coffee shop.
“One of the reasons I love PILLLAR is that it’s a space for (sustainability and community), and it’s hard to find certain spaces to build community,” Biasco said. “Part of what we want here is just a space where people will come monthly, hopefully, see familiar faces, make new connections and build more community, and feel a part of something in Minneapolis.”
At the center of the event was the idea of sustainable clothing practices in the face of capitalist systems. Customers were encouraged to bring high-quality clothing pieces that they simply did not wear and trade the pieces with other visitors for something new.
Katelyn Clemons, 26, was told about the event by her friend after seeing the venue’s Instagram post. She immediately decided she would attend and bring a bag of her clothes to trade.
“I am definitely actively looking for ways to be more sustainable with what I wear and trying to shift my mindset to realize that a lot of the things I might want exist secondhand or already exist in the stream of consumption,” Clemons said.
Clemons is participating in an online challenge called the 75 Hard Style Challenge, where one documents their outfit every day, doesn’t buy new clothes and sets goals and intentions. A week in, her goal at the swap was to find new pieces for the winter without spending any money on something new.
“I wanted to hand off stuff that I was excited to find secondhand because I think that’s what makes these things enjoyable,” Clemons said. “It feels like you’re thrifting.”
The event featured live music from DJ Adam Udenberg, who played psychedelic tunes while visitors milled around the small venue. Hangers were donated or brought by other visitors, with clothing sizes from all ranges. There were tables dedicated to shorts, skirts, pants and jeans, and even a section for winter items like scarves and coats.
As a friend of Biasco, Rose Cianflone threw together a small bag of her clothes and visited the exchange to look for “community and coffee.”
Cianflone said the event was incredibly important in current times, and said, “We as a society have been moving away from a lot of community things, especially after COVID and stuff. So it’s really cool to see people organizing things without monetary expectations.”
This sentiment was at the core of Biasco’s intention for the event, a core value shared by PILLLAR, who agreed to host the exchange. Together, the event was planned and marketed within a week.
“I was putting this together as a case study on looking at economics that exists outside of capitalism,” Biasco said. “We plan on turning it into a monthly event. So it should be self-sustaining.”
Biasco said by turning the event into a monthly gathering, visitors can build it into their habits and form a stronger connection with those there while supporting a sustainable clothing practice.
“It’s nice to reuse clothing rather than just send it away,” Biasco said. “If you have used clothing, rather than give it to someone at Saver’s that’s gonna sell it for profit, find someone in your community that would want it.”
