“This initiative is about more than just swapping clothes,” Gomez told Viory. “We have the Atacama Desert clothed, not in bloom. This is a call to action against textile waste, which pollutes our environment . Through exchange, repair, and transformation, we’re creating new ways to connect, physically and emotionally,” she added.

Gomez referred to the alarming situation in the Atacama Desert, where an estimated 30,000 tonnes of discarded clothing and textile waste accumulate, a byproduct of the global fast fashion industry.

Guinness World Records adjudicator Natalia Ramirez praised the initiative, describing it as having “an extremely important social impact.”

“The organisers highlighted the issue of overconsumption and promoted circular fashion to extend the life of garments, an idea that resonates globally, not just in Chile,” Ramirez noted.

According to government data, Chileans consume an average of 32 kilograms of textiles per person annually, contributing to more than 572,000 tonnes of textile waste each year.