College students, East Village designers, a Bergdorf window dresser and neighbors by the dozen filled the Eisner and Lubin Auditorium at New York University’s Kimmel Center on Earth Day for a fun-filled, exciting Swap-O-Rama. There was no buying, but plenty of trading, sewing, embroidering and silk-screening. A bag of clothes and $10 was the price of entrance. A clothing swap with do-it-yourself workshops, the event explores creative reuse through recycling used clothing. With access to sewing machines and thread, expert advice, elastic, cord and other materials, transformations took place. A bikini bra turned into a cell phone holder, above left. A humungous I-cup brassiere became a sturdy backpack, above right. And crop pants turned into an off-the-shoulder dress, below. The leftover clothes were sent to a homeless shelter. Swap-O-Rama happens twice a year.
