One of the perks of living in a true four-season state like New Jersey is the fashion. Fall weather is all about layering, a welcome change after the minimalism summer so often necessitates. Sweaters, boots, jackets, scarves, and hats are additional opportunities to accessorize, to make a statement. But living in such a climate means wardrobes change quickly, and for a lot of us, the result is routine closet cleanouts with donation bags piling up in the trunk (guilty). This weekend, a pair of New Jersey besties and entrepreneurs are giving Montclair locals a chance to drop the clothes they’re ready to part with and shop for new favorites. On Saturday, October 12th, from 11AM to 3PM, Jersey Girl Thrift is hosting its first public clothing swap at Bloom CC + CO in Montclair, New Jersey. Keep reading for details about the clothing swap event coming to Montclair this weekend.
Photo Credit: Jersey Girl Thrift
Event Details
Jersey Girl Thrift (JGT), a second-hand clothing network based in New Jersey, is hosting its first public clothing swap event in Montclair this weekend. On Saturday, October 12th, locals are invited to Bloom CC + CO — at 52 Upper Montclair Plaza — to shop the network’s curated selection of second-hand clothes, most of which are community-sourced.
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Here’s how it works: the event is $35 to attend. That ticket purchase is the only purchase you’ll make for the whole day, as there are no vendors or individually priced items. Instead, you bring any clothes, shoes, or accessories you’re looking to part ways with. For every bag of contributions you bring, Jersey Girl Thrift will provide a bag to fill with new goodies. The more you bring, the more you can shop.
The swap inventory this weekend will feature items previously donated to JGT, either from previous events or items collected through its free pick-up service. “Instead of dropping clothes off into the abyss of random bins or trying to locate a thrift store, JGT contributions go right back into our secondhand style network to populate events,” co-founder Kelli Buschinski shared with The Montclair Girl. “We like to make sure the swap is full of out-of-the-box pieces in a range of styles and sizes. Unlike a regular thrift experience, we run rigorous quality control for stains, missing buttons, etc. so you don’t have to,” she added.
Photo Credit: Jersey Girl Thrift
The event runs from 11AM to 3PM at Bloom CC + CO, a space that “checked all the boxes” for JGT. You can purchase tickets here.
About Jersey Girl Thrift
Over a decade ago, Kelli Buschinski and Larell Scardelli were students and co-workers, fixing up lattes and refreshers at a local Starbucks. The two became quick friends, bonding over their shared love for pop culture, fashion, and thrifting.
In the years that followed, Kelli and Larell would embark on their individual careers — Kelli in people operations, Larell in marketing — but their friendship grew symbiotically with their interests. Attending estate sales, yard sales, and a particularly impactful clothing swap in their Starbucks days, the two eventually arrived at an idea: “We were inspired to blend our love of thrifting and [the] universal need for friendship through hosting swaps like our friend once did, but with an elevated twist.”
^ Kelli (left) and Larell (right). Photo Credit: Jersey Girl Thrift
So earlier this year, that’s what they did. Their brand, Jersey Girl Thrift, is a second-hand clothing network with a curated selection of gently-used women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. Much of the brand’s “wardrobe” comes from JGT’s free (yes, you read that right) pickup service. (A total game changer for anyone who knows the struggle of procrastination — more details on that here.) This collection then populates the various pop-ups and swaps Kelli and Larell have throughout the year.
Thrifting might be the name of the game, but for Kelli and Larell, there’s friendship in fashion. “It’s about creating a network of sustainable fashion. It’s about making friends. It’s about having something to look forward to on the weekend.”
The event this weekend marks the first public event Kelli and Larell are hosting together, but Montclair is just the beginning. “We want to see Nashville Girl Thrift, San Diego Girl Thrift, and Chicago Girl Thrift someday,” Kelli shared. “We ultimately hope to create a much-needed thrifting experience across the US at a grassroots level.”
See More: A Guide to the Unique Boutiques in Hoboken + Jersey City
If you’re unable to make it this weekend, Jersey Girl Thrift has plans for pop-ups in Somerville, Jersey City, Morristown, and Summit on the horizon. You can keep up with Kelli and Larell’s adventures on Instagram or the JGT website.
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