When Kathryn Legaspi relocated to Dubai two years ago, she was disheartened by the limited thrifting culture in the city. Having grown up shopping at second-hand markets and thrift stores in the Philippines, she had always embraced sustainability, reuse, and frugality. Last year, a chance encounter with fellow conscious-consumption advocate Farah Radwan ignited a shared mission to alter shopping habits in Dubai. In June 2023, they co-founded Swap for Good, offering residents a platform to exchange their well-maintained, used goods for others’ pre-loved items.
“My mother and I exclusively shopped at thrift and swap stores in the Philippines, and when I later moved to Japan, I witnessed the vibrant second-hand market there as well,” shared the 31-year-old radio jockey. “In Dubai, with the convenience of home delivery and disposable income, people often accumulate a lot and discard items just as quickly. There’s a pressing need for greater awareness around reusing and recycling. With the government’s push toward a circular economy, I can see changes are starting to take place,” she told Khaleej Times.
“Swap for Good advocates for a circular approach, encouraging people to extend the use of items, reduce waste, and conserve resources,” she added. Held monthly at various locations across Dubai, the initiative has expanded from just three members to 400 active swappers. Each event attracts 70 to 100 participants who exchange clothes, books, accessories, shoes, and plants. This year alone, the initiative has prevented more than 1,136 items from ending up in landfills, with leftover items donated to support aid efforts in Palestine, Lebanon, and the Philippines.
A mutual friend introduced the founders when they were separately developing concepts for swapping apps and wardrobe digitization, projects that eventually didn’t come to fruition. Radwan, who transitioned from a career in marketing to one focused on wellness, noted that despite their different fields, she and Legaspi shared similar values. “We saw an opportunity to build a community centered around responsible consumption, environmental respect, and the spirit of sharing,” said the 32-year-old yoga teacher.
Legaspi described their initiative as a “social experiment” to create an alternative marketplace. “We aim to establish a go-to space for people where, if they can’t afford to buy a pair of jeans or a book, they can swap. Or, if they have extra items they don’t want to leave in donation bins without knowing their final destination, swapping becomes a better option. Some of our swappers even bring refreshments as a goodwill gesture,” she added. Their initial swap events at Times Square Centre, held outside the charity thrift store Thrift for Good, had a modest turnout. Participation has steadily increased each month since, with more than 100 people attending a three-hour swap earlier this year.
Radwan acknowledged that while they don’t anticipate an immediate shift to swapping, they are fostering a gradual change in mindset around consumption. “We aim for this to develop naturally, so swapping becomes a regular part of people’s lifestyles,” Radwan explained, noting that each swap follows a straightforward format. Details of the event are shared on social media, and followers are asked to register online. Participants can bring up to five items to swap for free, with a small fee of Dh20–Dh40 applied to additional items.
“This minimal charge helps us maintain the circularity we aim for. We want people to make thoughtful choices and not leave more items than what they take home. As a small operation, the fee also supports event resources, refreshments, and storage for leftover items,” Radwan noted. “The system is also flexible, allowing attendees to exchange a T-shirt for a book or accessories. This often surprises people, as they expect items of similar value in return. But it also challenges them to rethink consumption. You’re letting go of something you no longer need and replacing it with something you do,” she added.
Dubai resident Irina Okhapkina, who discovered the initiative on Instagram last year, described herself as a serial swapper. “I regularly go through my wardrobe to pick out outfits that don’t fit me well anymore or that I’ve simply fallen out of love with. It gives me a new perspective, knowing that my unwanted items could become someone else’s favorite. I also believe books shouldn't just sit in bookcases—they’re meant to be shared, and I love passing on that joy of reading to others.” “I remember my father attending vinyl and cassette swaps in Russia, where music lovers would gather to exchange. I think that’s where my appreciation for thrifting comes from. Some people are hesitant about second-hand items, but to me, they’re hidden treasures,” added the 39-year-old personal assistant in the IT industry.
Legaspi envisions a city where swapping becomes the default choice, not shopping. “We want people to consider swapping as their first option and we are seeing that happen with a lot of our swappers.” The founders aim to expand their initiative by tracking water and resource conservation, along with carbon reduction metrics for each swap. “We want to broaden the range of items that can be exchanged in the future. We also envision a time when skills can be swapped, as swapping goes beyond physical goods. It’s about using our abilities as a form of currency for other services or products,” they added.
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