The Covert Candy exchange is an online shopping community that gives its members the chance to bid for top clothes and accessories normally priced out of reach.

The site was launched in January this year and already has attracted more than 5,000 fashion-conscious followers.

The concept is simple - upload pictures of clothing you no longer want and pass them to other like-minded users in exchange for credits.

You then search the virtual wardrobes of other users, exchanging your credits with items that catch your eye. This innovative approach means no money is ever exchanged, and you get clothes for free.

The website is the brainchild of four friends - business graduate Harry Follett, graphic designer Jack Featherstone, IT manager Jamie Evans and Matthew Kotze.

Harry Follett said: "We felt there was a gap in the market for something like this. We differentiate ourselves from 'swap style' sites as we use a credit system to still give decent items of clothing their worth. This is also the absolute right time economically to launch a concept like this."

One of the first to sign up to the site, online shopper Rachel Slater, 27, said: "This is a fantastic idea and it is sure to take off. I have saved a fortune on getting clothes I want, whilst getting rid of stuff I never use. It definitely makes sense to use the site instead of spending yourself out of pocket on new clothes from the shop."

A recent Talk Talk poll found 11 million people using swapping websites throughout the UK and Covert Candy has been tipped to be the credit crunch saviour for fashion addicts.

Shorthand Sue

Website team