The subscription-based platform allows children aged 6-16 to swap clothes in a verified environment, with oversight from their caregiver.
Swoperz, the pre-loved marketplace “run by kids and managed by grown-ups”, has secured £250,000 in a pre-Seed round led by early-stage venture capital firm Jenson Funding Partners. Founded in 2021 by Charlene Hurlock and Vicky Fuller, the funding will be used to further build a robust, scalable platform that is a safe, online-verified environment for the next generation.
The global fashion resale market was valued at $182.4 billion in 2022, as second-hand clothing has become popular among all age groups. However, pre-loved options for children are limited, from the quality of clothes available to the choices in style. These lack of options can lead to overconsumption of fast fashion as families struggle to keep up with growing children’s need for new clothing, often buying new clothes, which is expensive and harmful to the environment
During the support bubble period of lockdown, Hurlock and Fuller noticed that their children loved swapping clothes and sharing wardrobes when visiting each other’s homes. After seeing how this empowered their children to celebrate their own style and think more about the environment, Hurlock and Fuller realised second-hand clothing options were limited for children under the age of 16.
Swoperz is a subscription-based marketplace costing £14.99 a month. It empowers children in their clothing choices whilst being environmentally-friendly as they can swap great quality, pre-loved clothes as many times as they like. Children are reimbursed with tokens when they upload an item and can use these tokens to “pay for” a different item on the platform. The user verified environment allows children to swap in safety.
Swoperz is committed to building a platform that prioritises safety and security. It has partnered with TrustElevate, the only secure, accurate and privacy-preserving provider of child age verification and parental consent to create an age-appropriate safe space for children and their families. Dr Rachel O’Connell, a leading expert on online child safety and Founder and CEO of TrustElevate is delighted to partner with Swoperz.
Swoperz will also allow children across the UK to swap their pre-loved school uniforms free of charge, without requiring a subscription, so adults will have one less expense to worry about whilst protecting the environment. Founders Hurlock and Fuller are passionate about helping families save money and protect the environment and know that school uniform can be a large yearly cost. Swoperz plans to develop these partnerships to create hubs for swapping school uniforms and sports kits, as well as creating pop-up swap shops throughout the country
Charlene Hurlock and Vicky Fuller, Founders of Swoperz, said: “We want our kids to be in control of their fashion, but also environmentally conscious in their choices. This is why we’ve created Swoperz. Swoperz gives children safe access to a huge range of age appropriate, preloved clothing so they can showcase their style every day. Parents can also feel safe in the knowledge that the platform is fully verified and controlled by them. Our platform can help parents budget better with ever-changing clothing requests from children, get kids excited about saving the planet, and instil a sense of responsibility and empowerment through our token system. We want to help children build positive, sustainable consumption habits whilst growing the circular economy and never compromising on their individuality.”
Sarah Barber, CEO of Jenson Funding Partners, says: “Swoperz is a sustainable solution that is having a positive impact on the environment by decreasing overconsumption of clothes, an industry that is notoriously wasteful. It’s also empowering children to express themselves through style, which is amazing to see. When children have so much independence in other aspects of their lives, such as by owning their own bank card or purchasing products online, it only makes sense that Charlene and Vicky have created a safe environment for children to enjoy clothes without breaking their parents’ budgets, or putting further strain on our planet.”