Swag is the stuff you get to mark that you have had an experience. People go to Disneyland and buy a Disney branded something to show that they were there. Going to Disneyland conveys status, buying the tee shirt displays it.
How you go to Disneyland also displays status. If you have an annual pass, a guest pass or go to special event it has more status than just buying a park pass.
It is the same thing we discovered yesterday with craft beer versus Miller Lite.
Swag as a display of status comes in many forms. From free to expensive and from gaudy to discreet.