Clothes on hangers

The project in a nutshell:

Build a clothing rack in a public space where people can drop off or pick up warm clothing during the winter months to promote solidarity with people in precarious situations. 

The amount needed to carry out the project:

5,500.-

Project Details:

The winter season is a time of significant concern for people living in precarious circumstances. To help this population, the project offers a participatory clothing drive that allows people in need to access clothing donated free of charge by the residents of Lausanne. The idea is inspired by existing initiatives in various countries, such as Iran, India, and Sweden, with the slogan “Take a coat if you’re cold; leave a coat if you no longer use it.”  

Closer to home and more recently, solidarity initiatives have highlighted the precarious living conditions faced by people in the Lausanne region during the winter. This effort to shed light on this social issue is carried forward by the participatory clothing drive; furthermore, the project provides a concrete act of mutual aid in a location accessible to everyone at all times. 

To bring this mutual aid initiative to life, the clothing rack—made of a minimalist structure of recycled steel—is installed in a covered, high-traffic area (underpasses, walkways, metro stations, etc.). The modular structure can be easily integrated into different neighborhoods throughout the city.  

The project is therefore itinerant and moves from one location to another, from one winter to the next. It requires only shelter and a little space.