Kristýna Holubová and Lucie Poubová have initiated a movement in the Czech Republic, promoting sustainable fashion through innovative clothing exchange events.
Two environmental advocates, Kristýna Holubová and Lucie Poubová, have gained recognition in the Czech Republic for pioneering a culture of sustainability through clothing exchanges, known as swaps. Their initiative began in 2016, inspired by both personal backgrounds and a shared passion for environmental causes. With a backdrop of increasing waste and consumerism, they have worked to educate the public about the benefits of reusing and recycling clothing.
Holubová’s early memories of litter in her village fueled her interest in environmental issues from a young age. Similarly, Poubová’s childhood experiences at her grandfather’s hunting lodge, which instilled in her a strong sense of environmental advocacy, shaped her understanding of sustainability. However, both indicated that their awareness of environmental consequences sharpened significantly after encounters with deeper explorations of textile production, particularly influenced by the 2011 documentary Ušili to na nás.
The two women met serendipitously at a zero-waste conference in Prague, organized around the principles of sustainable living. It was at this conference where they jointly coordinated their first swap event, which would mark the beginning of a collaboration aimed at redefining consumer habits through clothing exchanges.
Today, both Holubová and Poubová emphasize the importance of sustainability, asserting it embodies a process that does not exploit either people or nature. Poubová stated, “Sustainability is friendly to everyone,” underscoring their agreement on the need for a holistic approach to sustainability.
Their swaps are structured events where participants can bring clothing items they no longer need, thus prolonging the life of these items without contributing to global waste. With the aim of educating attendees, the events include lectures on sustainable practices, and they foster intergenerational connections by involving older generations who share skills such as knitting and mending.
Over the past six years, they have reported processing approximately 280,000 kilograms of clothing through their swap events. The pair is organizing the upcoming SWAP Festival, which is anticipated to be the largest of its kind in Czech history, featuring around ninety events in eighty cities, including Bratislava. This initiative aims to ensure that access to sustainable fashion practices is available to a broader audience.
Recognizing the potential for consumer overindulgence, the duo acknowledges that the culture of reselling secondhand items can sometimes mirror fast-fashion consumption, particularly with items sourced from fast-fashion brands. Holubová suggested setting personal limits on purchases, even in secondhand markets, while emphasizing the importance of community-oriented practices like borrowing and sharing among friends.
Poubová further noted that the essence of a swap is to foster enjoyment in clothing procurement while allowing participants to declutter their wardrobes responsibly. They have established rules for their swap events, including limits on the number of items exchanged to maintain quality and prevent misuse of the system. Surplus items not taken during a swap are either saved for future events or donated to organizations that can put them to good use.
As leading figures in this movement for sustainable fashion in the Czech Republic, Holubová and Poubová continue to advocate for thoughtful consumption and community engagement, guiding individuals toward more sustainable choices in their wardrobe. Their journey embodies a growing trend toward responsible living and a recognition of the impact of consumer behaviors on the environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
