87. Swoperz: the subscription app letting kids swap clothes to save the planet

Founder: Vicky Fuller and Charlene Hurlock
Year founded: 2021
Website: swoperz.com

You’re never too young to start side-hustling! Swoperz is a subscription-based preloved kids’ clothing community with a difference – it’s run by kids and managed by grown-ups.

Shopping for pre-loved clothes remains incredibly popular as consumers make more effort to choose sustainable options while spending less due to the high cost of living. And shopping second-hand can be particularly helpful for children’s clothing, given they grow so quickly and rarely wear out clothing items before they become too big for them.

That’s why Swoperz works so well. Children can ‘swop’ top quality preloved kids’ clothes for six to 16-year-olds and manage their own accounts, allowing them to independently swap preloved clothing in a safe environment controlled by adults. Their parents pay a monthly subscription for unlimited opportunities to swap.

We want our kids to be in control of their style but always with a conscience,

“We want our kids to be in control of their style but always with a conscience,” says Fuller. “We’ve created a safe, grown-up verified environment where kids can swap their clothes without any worries about the planet or their online safety.”

We were particularly impressed by the cofounders’ tenacity and ingenuity. The biggest challenge in launching Swoperz was trying to validate the idea during lockdown.

Thinking outside the box/bubble, the cofounders hosted socially distanced fashion shows in their gardens and then took the idea to Facebook, setting up a swapping group with over 100 members. There are no other online preloved marketplaces that are designed for kids that offer a safe, verified shopping experience, too.

We’ve created a safe, grownup verified environment where kids can swap their clothes without any worries about the planet or their online safety.

Swoperz secured £250,000 SEIS funding in March 2024 through Jenson Funding Partners, and has partnerships with Girlguiding Anglia, Essex County Council and Fonetti, to name a few.

But Fuller says the app’s biggest highlight from 2024 was winning the eBay 2023/2024 Sustainable Fashion Fund Competition, giving the cofounders mentoring support from eBay and £25,000 in prize money.

Swoperz helps children access the pre-loved clothes market and understand that shopping new isn’t always best. It’s a little startup with bold ideas, and we’re proud to name it our most stylish addition to the 2025 Startups 100.