Shwap Club ( St-henri )

*edit My 4th visit, I finally had some luck and walked away with some really nice quality items, so that was a nice surprise. After a few visits at both locations I think it can be hit or miss but when it's good, it's really good! I still wish shwap and ligne didn't launch in the middle of the work day and that items didn't disappear in a matter of a minute or two. Because the shwap en ligne is so popular (victim of it's own success!), the site crashed and it can be super challenging to reserve items.Finger's crossed for more successful visits! _________________ Really great idea, but the execution is such a downer. I *really* wanted to like this sustainable alternative to fast fashion but unfortunately, the quality just isn't there. The process of dropping off the clothes and having them sort was straight forward which is appreciated and they ended up taking 8 of my items on my first visit. I paid the $18 entry free so I could browse and drop off clothes, but to my disappointment, there were EXTREMELY limited options for people who aren't petite (seriously, very few options in size large or XL, lots at XS, S, and some medium). Also, many of the items in store were outdated Zara items, H&M, Joe Fresh etc. and not all were in prime condition (pilling on sweaters, signs of frequent washing on some items, especially for the active wear). It kind of occupies this weird space of not being vintage/timeless, but not really feeling current or on trend with many of the items(at least during my visits). The items I had traded were new/unworn or lightly used from Scotch and Soda, Anthropologie, banana republic,CK, etc. so, when you trade in higher value items, and everything on the floor is not that, it can be disappointing. Now I have 7 credits (luckily managed to find one item in my size and good condition), and because I couldn't find anything, I had to purchase a membership to hopefully find something on other visits. After my 2nd visit, I'm not very hopeful. I brought a guest who also wasn't able to find anything. Because of this, if you have higher value items, I would go with another alternative. You may think "okay, maybe if I can't find anything in store, I'll find something online". Well, they only do "drops" once a month, and if you miss it, you have to wait for the next one to have access to inventory and there aren't many items. I was told these items go quickly! Finally, when I had arrived to the store last weekend for my 2nd visit, there was no record of my 8 credits (from when I had first registered at the Mile end location), and it took over 30 minutes standing at the register to get it sorted (the women at the register were helpful at getting it sorted, but it was a headache). There were also technical issues accessing my online client space, but luckily the company was really helpful at getting that sorted. Thank you! Small bonus, the home decor items are very cute and thoughtfully chosen but not included with the Shwap club membership (just a discount). I wish the clothing items were as nicely curated as these items. *** edit, I tried the shwapper en ligne function and it was a disappointment. Nearly everything was gone in 2 minutes- so few items available for what must be hundreds of members? I managed to reserve 2 items hoping to recoup some of my remaining credits, but again very little available in L. The shwapper en ligne opens once a month at 10:00, By 10:02- nothing is left and you must settle for items you're not excited about. Why go live in the middle of the work day? I really want this to work, but the model really needs some restructuring.

Love that place! I’ve been a member for a few years now, and have to say that most of my clothes come from there. It’s a great way to refresh your closet sustainability. I always find something great that I would never thought of buying or even trying on. Love, love, love this place. And everyone working there are always super nice and welcoming. I highly recommend!

I really like the concept and want to love this place but every time I go, it's been a disappointment. Yes, the space is beautiful and people are nice, but the inventory is so slim (only few items in popular sizes) and the brands tend to be on the lower end. In the end, it fails to deliver much value, unless you take the annual membership and camp out there all the time. Also beware, parking on the premise is not cheap.

Excellent service! Found them when they were offering free bags of clothing to anyone who wanted some! They were super helpful, accommodating, friendly, and the items I received were great quality! I'll be using their trade service in the future for sure. Such a great initiative to keep clothing circling instead of in the landfill.

The Shwap Club is my absolute favorite place to shop. I love the circular concept of shwapping that reduces clothing waste and builds a strong sense of community. They even offer fun BYOB shwap nights exclusively for members! The team does a great job at sorting and selecting quality clothing, replenishes inventory often and organizes the store really well. I got this entire outfit (minus the shoes) at the Shwap Club. Would highly recommend!