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BeReworn – A Platform For Slow Fashion Events
BeReworn is like an Eventbrite for slow fashion – it helps you organize and find events around sustainable style. We chatted with the co-founder Samantha S Cervin, 26.
We vintage hunters and secondhand seekers know that sometimes the best things are hard to find. (That’s why we created Gem!) The same challenge applies to other parts of life, too, from finding a good tailor to your next apartment. Enter BeReworn, a new platform that helps people find sustainable and slow fashion events like clothing swaps.
We asked the co-founder Samantha Samantha S Cervin to share the backstory and the future plans.
What is the core idea BeReworn?
Our platform makes it easy to create or find slow fashion events by handling key tasks like tracking attendees, managing sales, processing volunteer applications, and promoting events to boost visibility. Soon, we’ll offer features for managing clothing – showing previews of the items that are going to be at the show, etc.
What made you create this platform?
I’ve always been passionate about fashion. I began collecting fashion magazines when I was 12. In college, I swapped clothes with my roommates, and later, as a young professional, I couldn’t always afford to buy a lot of clothing, especially from sustainable brands.
Thrift store prices started to slowly rise over the last four years, so I went to my first clothing swap, and it was a game changer! I didn’t know what to expect, but it was super easy to get along and check out the clothes. I remember thinking, ‘I can’t wait to come to the next one!’ That’s when I realized how much I needed a community that shared my passion for slow fashion.
What is your business model?
Right now, creating events with us is free, and we only charge a fee when tickets are sold at a price. Free events have no ticket fees. While anyone can create events on our site, we also offer private events like style workshops and clothing swaps for companies that want to educate and build sustainability awareness among their employees. Data is also going to play a big role. We will start collecting information on what brands people are bringing since the big brands won’t release production numbers.
What kind of events can people post on your platform?
Right now, we have four categories: clothing swaps, upcycling workshops, community meetups and closet sales. Events can take place anywhere in the world.
How did you get the funds to create the platform?
Bootstrapping, bootstrapping, and we got a couple of grants! We are now raising our pre-seed round, but man, it’s tough out there. Fingers crossed!
What are the long-term goals of the platform?
We are excited to be launching our app by December! It will make it simple to connect with a community passionate about sustainability through a forum. One of the most exciting additions coming soon is the ability to track the impact your fashion choices have on the environment. Basically, based on the number of items you’ve swapped, you’ll be able to see your contributions in terms of carbon emissions saved, water used, and what that represents in a fun way – like how many showers that equals or trips to different places.
Our goal is to sustain our team with the platform: me, co-founder and CTO Lukasz Siatka, and our two female design contractors.
Are clothing swaps becoming more popular and more common, in your opinion?
Absolutely. After COVID, people are looking for real-life connections. Clothing swaps are not only fun, but they also provide a great space to meet new friends and refresh your wardrobe in a more eco-friendly, accessible, and affordable way. There’s also huge value in connecting with people who share your interests.
What are some common misconceptions and worries people have about clothing swaps?
On the host side, people are mostly afraid that no one will show up. Many also feel that hosting an event is just too much work. That’s one of the reasons we created Bereworn, to make it as simple as possible for people to host events. On the swapper side, I think people often worry it will be difficult to find items, but I guarantee you’ll be surprised by how much effort hosts put into their swaps to make it easy for everyone. Dealing with leftover clothing can be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan or space for it. Another challenge is that people tend to RSVP closer to the event date, BUT it’s crucial to start promoting at least 3-4 weeks in advance, giving people enough time to mark their calendars!
Why should anyone attend a swap or other slow fashion event?
You absolutely have to attend a clothing swap at least once in your life to experience the magic of sustainability awareness. I’ve been moving around cities for the past four years, and it can be hard to make new friends and put yourself out there. Clothing swaps have been an amazing way for me to connect with people who I can now proudly call friends!
What is slow fashion, in your opinion?
Oh man, this is a question I really love, but it’s a tough one, too. For me, slow fashion is a choice. It’s about shopping consciously and having empathy to think about what’s behind the clothes we wear. It’s about taking the time to do the research and find our way to contribute to the environment. But it also means change. When we look back and see how far we’ve come, we’re raising awareness for both old and new generations, and hopefully leaving the door open for the next ones to come. And I say ‘we’ because we’re a huge community contributing to slow fashion from different points of view. (I feel like a grandma saying “new generations”).
bright red blazer