Question 1

What is Lucky Sweater?

Accepted Answer

Lucky Sweater is a trade-forward, buy-curious secondhand social platform powered by circular abundance. Members trade and shop each other’s closets, share style and life inspiration, and look out for one another. Browse the finds on the web; join the community in the app to trade, list your own closet and meet the people behind the clothes.

Question 2

Does it cost anything to join?

Accepted Answer

No. It matters to us that anyone can experience Lucky Sweater for free, so jump in at no cost. The only things you ever pay for are shipping your side of a trade, our optional Trade Protection service at $2.99 a trade, and the optional Sustainer 🍀 membership — that’s how we keep the app running without filling it with ads.

Question 3

Do I need an account to look around?

Accepted Answer

Not on the web. You can browse every public find, save what you love and build a bag without signing up — those live in this browser and travel with you into the app when you continue. An account lives in the app, where trading, buying, listing and messaging happen.

Question 4

Is Lucky Sweater invite-only?

Accepted Answer

Not any more, though an invite is still the warmest way in. A member’s invite code opens the communities that member belongs to — so a friend in Slow Fashion can let you straight into Slow Fashion, and a friend in every group can let you into all of them with no questionnaire. Free membership covers two communities; Sustainers can belong to as many as they like.

Question 5

What’s the difference between the website and the app?

Accepted Answer

The website is the shop window: browse the marketplace, follow a brand or a group, save finds and fill a bag. The app is where Lucky Sweater actually happens — trades, purchases, your closet, discussions, looks and messages. Whatever you save here carries over when you continue in the app.

Question 6

Can I leave a community?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In the app, tap Home, then the tab for the community you want to leave, then “About the community” and “Leave community” at the bottom of the page. Reach out to us if anything gets stuck.

Question 7

Can I buy something I found on the website?

Accepted Answer

Yes — anything labelled “For Sale” can be bought, and the purchase itself is completed in the Lucky Sweater app. Add it to your bag here, continue in the app, and your bag and saves come with you. Items without a price are trade-only.

Question 8

Is everything one of a kind?

Accepted Answer

Almost always. These are real secondhand pieces from real closets, so most listings are the only one in existence. When it’s gone, it’s gone — saving a find is the best way to keep track of it.

Question 9

How do payments work?

Accepted Answer

Payments run through Stripe in the app — card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Stripe processes payments for millions of businesses and handles the card details, so we never hold them.

Question 10

Can we exchange money to even out a trade?

Accepted Answer

We’d rather you gift or bundle — adding a second piece is usually the kinder fix, and it keeps the whole thing a trade. Members can also buy anything listed for sale outright. Never take a payment off-app for a listed item; we can’t help with anything that happens outside Lucky Sweater.

Question 11

How do I sell my own pieces?

Accepted Answer

Listing, pricing and managing your closet all happen in the app. Price is an optional field on any listing: set one to open a piece up for sale, or leave it off to keep it trade-only. Everything stays available to trade either way.

Question 12

What’s the difference between trading and selling?

Accepted Answer

Every item on Lucky Sweater is available to trade — that’s the baseline. Selling sits on top: an owner can add a price and make a piece buyable as well. So everything for sale is also tradeable, and plenty of closets stay trade-only on purpose.

Question 13

How do I trade for something?

Accepted Answer

Trading happens in the app. Tap “Message about a trade” on someone’s item, suggest a piece from your closet or keep it open-ended, and talk it through. When you both agree, accept the trade and ship to each other. No money changes hands.

Question 14

Is trading free?

Accepted Answer

Yes — trading itself is completely free, in every community. Each of you pays to ship your own side of the swap.

Question 15

How quickly should I reply to a trade request?

Accepted Answer

Within 24 hours where you can, even if the answer is “I need to think.” Someone is usually waiting on you to plan their own trades. Requests expire after 6 days, and if you want to pass, tapping “Pass” with a kind note frees them up to look elsewhere.

Question 16

What’s the Weekly Swap Drop?

Accepted Answer

Every Tuesday at 12pm PT, the items added by the community over the past week go live together. It’s the rhythm of Lucky Sweater — a weekly reason to get together, get inspired and hang out. Sustainers 🍀 get a three-hour head start on the whole drop.

Question 17

How do I get my items into the drop?

Accepted Answer

Add them before 12pm PT on Tuesday. Miss the cut and they simply go live in the following week’s drop — and everything stays browsable, saveable and tradeable in the meantime. Turn on the “add an item” push notification for a reminder 2 days, 1 day, 2 hours or 1 hour before.

Question 18

What’s an ISO?

Accepted Answer

ISO means “in search of.” Add the items, brands, styles and sizes you’re hunting for to your ISO list, and mark the big one as your unicorn 🦄 — that’s how members know to come to you when they’ve got it.

Question 19

What are Saves, Super Saves and save matches?

Accepted Answer

Tap the star on anything you’d consider trading for; it shows interest and sends people to your closet. A Super Save says “this is the one” — everyone gets one a week, Sustainers get five. When you and another member have both saved from each other’s closets, that’s a save match, and it’s a great sign to request the trade.

Question 20

What makes a fair trade?

Accepted Answer

Whatever the two of you agree on. Price rarely equals value here — someone may be far more excited about your handmade dress than the bag it’s swapping for. ISOs and Trade Preferences (“Try me!”, “My ISOs”, “Gifting”) are how you signal what a good trade looks like for you.

Question 21

Can I trade across communities?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as you and your trade partner both belong to the communities involved. In both Vintage and Slow Fashion? Then you can swap a vintage piece for a slow fashion one.

Question 22

How does gifting work?

Accepted Answer

Set an item’s trade preference to “Gifting” and members can request it, paying only shipping. It’s up to you who receives it, and nobody should take it personally if a request isn’t accepted. No reciprocity is expected in return — and when a gifted piece stops serving you, the most Lucky Sweater thing you can do is gift it forward.

Question 23

What can I list?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the community. Slow Fashion trades brands from the vetted brand list — quality garments made to last, by makers who treat people, animals and the planet fairly. Me Made is for handmade pieces plus the fabrics, patterns, notions and tools behind them. Vintage is for adult clothing, shoes and accessories from a distinct era, 20 years or older.

Question 24

How do I get a brand added to the Slow Fashion list?

Accepted Answer

In the app, open the Slow Fashion tab, tap Vetted Brand List and start typing — if the brand isn’t there you’ll see “Suggest a Brand”. The list began with the founders of the Instagram community @selltradeslowfashion, and our team reviews every submission alongside the community moderators.

Question 25

How many photos does a listing need?

Accepted Answer

At least three of the actual item: front, back and the label if there is one. Add more when it matters — close-ups of damage, mirror selfies, extra angles for shoes and bags. Never use someone else’s photos, and if you’re relisting a piece you received on Lucky Sweater, include at least one new photo of it in your hands.

Question 26

Do I have to add measurements?

Accepted Answer

Yes — at least three accurate flat-lay measurements on every item, or the listing will be declined. There’s no global standard for sizing, so measurements are what let someone on the other side of the country know whether a piece will fit. Brand size charts are welcome as extra context, never as a substitute.

Question 27

Which size should I list — the tag, or how it fits?

Accepted Answer

The tagged size, always. Put your fit notes in the description: if a Small wears more like a Large, that’s genuinely useful to say — it just shouldn’t replace the size on the label.

Question 28

What makes a good listing?

Accepted Answer

Honest condition notes with every flaw called out, clear daylight photos, accurate flat measurements, the tagged size, and the right department (women’s, men’s or unisex — how the garment was cut, not who should wear it). Say where it came from, too. Accurate listings are the whole basis of trust here.

Question 29

Are there any fees for listing?

Accepted Answer

No. Listing and trading are free — you pay to ship your side of a swap, and you can optionally add Trade Protection for $2.99 a trade (included for Sustainers 🍀).

Question 30

How does shipping work?

Accepted Answer

Buy your label in the app and you can print it — or show a USPS QR code, no printer needed — and track the package without leaving Lucky Sweater. We work with Shippo for competitive rates across USPS, UPS, DHL, FedEx and more, and payment runs through Stripe.

Question 31

Who pays for shipping?

Accepted Answer

On a trade, each member pays for and ships their own side. On a gift, the person receiving it covers shipping. On a purchase, shipping is shown before you pay.

Question 32

How quickly do I need to ship?

Accepted Answer

Within 3 business days of confirming a trade or sale, unless you’ve agreed something else directly with your partner. Share your tracking number in the chat so they know when to expect it. Travelling or otherwise unable to ship? Update your Away status and mark your items “Not available” until you’re back.

Question 33

Is my item insured?

Accepted Answer

Almost all of them are: nearly every in-app label includes up to $100 of insurance at no extra cost, and you can buy more. Cover varies by carrier and service, so open the details beside each rate when you’re choosing one rather than assuming. The sender is responsible for the item until it’s delivered, so we always suggest insuring the full estimated resale value — that’s what a carrier claim pays out against.

Question 34

Can I ship internationally?

Accepted Answer

In-app labels and insurance cover many countries, but not all. Where we can’t serve you, ship with an outside provider and share the tracking number. We also encourage trading as locally as you can, to keep the footprint down.

Question 35

What if my package is lost or never arrives?

Accepted Answer

On a trade, the sender stays responsible for their item until the carrier marks it delivered. Because we don’t physically ship anything, only the carrier can trace a package — so the sender files the claim, and its insurance is what pays out. If you shipped in-app with Trade Protection, message us via the blue shield icon in your chat and we’ll handle that claim end to end, and cover the insured value up to $250 if the carrier denies it. When the payout comes in under the piece’s secondhand resale value, the member left without an item can ask for a trade-back. If something arrives damaged, keep the box and every scrap of packaging — a claim needs them. If it’s stolen after delivery, file a police report.

Question 36

Can I return something?

Accepted Answer

Trading isn’t retail, so there’s no return policy. Always read an item’s measurements and condition notes before you commit — they’re there so you know exactly what’s arriving. If a piece turns out to have been misrepresented, the remedy is a trade-back, where you each send the item home — we suggest those case by case, and the call belongs to the two of you. If the piece simply doesn’t fit or doesn’t spark joy, that isn’t a trade-back — relist it and send it onward. That’s the whole fun of it.

Question 37

What if an item arrives not as described?

Accepted Answer

Message your trade partner first — most of these are honest misunderstandings, and a trade-back sorts them out. If you used in-app shipping with Trade Protection, message us via the blue shield icon and we’ll mediate and cover return shipping both ways. On your own label, return postage is yours, but our team can still help mediate. Either way, tell us, so we can keep that member’s listings accurate in future.

Question 38

How should I pack a trade?

Accepted Answer

Sturdily and sustainably. Reuse mailers and boxes wherever you can, as long as every old barcode and label is removed or covered. Wrap knits, jewellery and anything prone to snagging in tissue or soft cloth. A thank-you note isn’t required — it just makes the whole thing feel human.

Question 39

What are the community guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Be kind, everyone belongs, don’t pressure or pursue, protect each other’s privacy, and contribute to the community rather than extracting from it. Listings must be honest, trades must be honoured, and Lucky Sweater isn’t a place to source stock for resale elsewhere. The full guidelines are worth a read.

Question 40

What can I post in discussions?

Accepted Answer

Fit, sizing and care tips, brand and item questions, sustainability practices, styling inspiration, handmade projects, recommendations — the things you’d bring to a group chat. Tag posts by topic so people can find them.

Question 41

What can’t I post in discussions?

Accepted Answer

Posts promoting specific items in your closet, ISO posts for specific items, and promo codes, referral links or outside sales. It keeps the feed a conversation rather than a marketplace. Add ISOs to your profile instead — and if you’re a small maker unsure where the line falls, just ask us.

Question 42

How does Trade Protection work?

Accepted Answer

It’s an optional layer of support on trades shipped with an in-app label: we handle the carrier claim end to end, cover the insured value up to $250 if that claim is denied, give you priority mediation, and cover return shipping both ways on a trade-back. It’s $2.99 a trade, and included on every Sustainer 🍀 trade. It isn’t a return policy or a refund.

Question 43

How do I report a problem or another member?

Accepted Answer

Tap the three dots on any item, message, profile, comment or post and choose “Report”, or reach the team through the “?” icon at the bottom left of the app’s homepage. Reports stay between you and the Lucky Sweater team, and we read every one. If you’re ever in immediate danger, contact your local authorities first.

Question 44

What happens when someone breaks the guidelines?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what happened. We may ask a member to update or remove a listing, post or comment, remove it ourselves, remove them from a community, or suspend the account temporarily or permanently. Accounts can be put on hold while we review, and we may weigh off-platform conduct that affects the community.

Question 45

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

The fastest route is the “?” icon at the bottom left of the app’s homepage. You can also email support@luckysweater.com any time — feedback, questions and feature requests all land in the same place, and we’re real people who read everything.

Question 46

What is a Sustainer 🍀?

Accepted Answer

Sustainers are members who chip in to keep Lucky Sweater running and growing. It’s our alternative to filling the app with ads: support comes from the community, and it pays the team who build and look after this place.

Question 47

What does it cost?

Accepted Answer

$7.99 a month, or $75.99 a year — about 20% off if you go annual. You subscribe, renew and cancel inside the app.

Question 48

What do Sustainers get?

Accepted Answer

Unlimited communities instead of two, a three-hour head start on every Swap Drop, all trades protected with no $2.99 fee, five Super Saves a week instead of one, saved filter combinations, item insights (saves and views), premium support answered inside 24 hours on weekdays, an exclusive feature-request board, and first access to whatever we build next.

Question 49

Can I gift a Sustainer membership?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it’s one of the kindest things you can do here. Gift a one-time membership directly to someone, or contribute to the community pool so we can pass memberships to members who can’t afford one. No recurring charges, no commitment.

Question 50

Where do my saves and bag live?

Accepted Answer

In this browser, until you continue in the app. There’s no web sign-in: when you head to the app we hand your saves and bag across so nothing you found here gets lost.

Question 51

How do I manage or delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Your account lives in the app — update your details there any time, and delete it whenever you like. Our Privacy Policy sets out exactly what we hold and what deletion removes.

Question 52

Do you sell my data?

Accepted Answer

No. We don’t sell your personal information, and we haven’t. The Privacy Policy is the full account of what we collect, who we share it with and why.

Question 53

How do I keep my details private?

Accepted Answer

Treat DMs, emails and shipping details as private by default — never post addresses, tracking numbers or private messages anywhere public, and don’t use someone’s presence here to contact them off-platform without their say-so. Friendships absolutely grow out of trades; they just need consent on both sides.

How can we help?

Getting started

Buying & selling

Trading & the Swap Drop

Listing your items

Shipping & when things go wrong

Community & safety

Sustainer membership

Your account & privacy

Still stuck? The team is in the app.