It’s January. We’re freezing, broke and bored so if like us you’re in need of a pick-me-up, why not swap clothes online for free?

Whether you’re familiar with swapping clothes, or simply in desperate need of a wardrobe clear out, getting rid of all your old items and swapping them for something second-hand could be the answer you’re looking for.

Fortunately, there’s an app for that. Inventive and sustainable app Nuw allows you to upload garments you’re ready to part with in exchange for tokens, which once approved you can use to buy others’ unwanted items. If you’d rather not part with certain possessions, you can lend them to borrow unlimited.

READ MORE: 8 super stylish brands that are anti-fast fashion

Everything uploaded goes through an approval process, so you won’t get any nasty surprises when you do swap, while the owner has the chance to decline a swap if the item is no longer available.

The best part? It’s completely free.

In keeping with COVID-19 guidelines, we recommend posting anything you swap and avoiding meeting up with swappers during the lockdown. The recipient covers the postage, of course.

Nuw is a fantastic example of the innovative ways consumers are shopping sustainably in 2021. While clothing rental is gaining traction, sustainable fashion lines are becoming the norm and Netflix documentary Minimalism: Less Is Now encourages us to get comfortable with less, shoppers are starting to wake up.

READ MORE: Is Zara ethical and sustainable?

It’s long overdue. According to WRAP, the average UK household owns around £4,000 worth of clothes but only wears around 70% of them every year.

In the UK, around 350,000 tonnes of used clothing ends up in landfill every year, the value of which equates to £140million.

WRAP also report that two thirds of UK consumers buy pre-owned clothes. They’re also willing to wear more of it, but there’s a need for more availability so it’s great to see apps like Nuw popping up.

If you’re looking to adopt a more sustainable approach, here are our favourite sustainable fashion brands to shop from.

If you’re having a clear out, here are some inventive ways to recycle your clothes rather than binning them.

Ego Age also offer a fantastic guide on how to hold your own clothes swap event here after the pandemic has ended.

Download Nuw here.

READ MORE: Can H&M’s Conscious collection ever really be sustainable?

READ MORE: Pretty Little Thing are selling clothes for 4p – but how much do they pay garment workers?

For fashion advice and general chit-chat, join our Facebook group What To Cheap Luxury Handbags .