Setting up the Gallery took one caretaker, Andy, a Technition, Students from FPI Year 2, 8 mirrors and lots of heavy lifting. Clothing rails provided by the fashion department were set up in the centre of the Gallery, and four changing rooms were set up using screens provided by FPI. Television screens were used to play dvds such as The Devil Wears Prada, Legally Blonde, and Marie Antoinette, while the projector played a Make Do and Mend animation by Louise Walsh.
To take part in the Frock exchange, any UCA Student or Teacher would need to bring in any unwanted items of clothing, shoes or accessories. Depending on the number of items they had brought in, they were able to take the same amount home with them. It started off slow, with only 30 garments on the rails and three pairs of shoes, but if no one could find something they wanted they could come back later in the day with their tag with their number of items written on it.
Gradually, all ranges of items came in. Belts, scarves, many many summer tops, floaty dresses, and after a while even menswear came in. Skirts, trousers and jeans hardly came in all day, and many were left over afterwards.
The changing rooms were also barely used as people came in knowing exactly what their style was, so picked up clothes and took them away within five minutes.
Although it wasn't as busy as was hoped, it was successful in that many people got rid of clothes they didn't want and came out, not necessarily with a new wardrobe, but with new clothes for free.
