It is not a surprise when it comes to the babies’ clothes, that the wastage has an enormous negative impact on the planet. With babies outgrowing 7 clothing sizes in just 2 years, it is the ultimate fast fashion. In addition to that, the population is growing meaning more babies need to dress up.
According to the charity Hubbub. there are 183 million items of outgrown baby clothes tucked away in homes around the UK. I found estimates that a typical British family spends £11,000 every year on childrenswear. Hubbub’s research indicates that a third of British parents have thrown away the clothes unwanted children’s clothes. One of the reasons is that they were unsure what else to do with outgrown clothes and saw it as the simplest option. I am a mum and I can relate to that. When my child outgrew the clothes, I decided to keep them and explore other options rather than throwing them away.
There are various ways to ensure that second-hand baby clothes are being worn again and again before tossing them away. The environmental impact of clothing can be reduced by 40% when babies’ clothing is worn by other families. Once you become a new parent you want to shower your baby with new clothes that are straight from the store. That’s the mentality at least I had when I was pregnant. I was looking for new baby clothes for my newborn. Frankly, secondhand marketplace or charities did not cross my mind once. Sadly, many parents still feel the same. They do not consider looking for preloved items unless face financial restrictions or other.
For new parents and full-time workers, it is challenging to meet other parents that you could share outgrown clothes. Unless it is your family or close friend who is expecting a newborn. Therefore, many parents leave the clothes somewhere in the closet or throw them away. I have kept my baby clothes in the closet for over 2 years and forgot totally about them. As I can remember I gave away a couple of designer pieces to my friend who was expecting while the rest stayed in the closet. Frankly, I have no idea what she did with the clothes after her child outgrew them. I might ask her now when it crossed my mind.
One of the reasons is that many parents still lack the resources available to them on what to do with baby clothes. If parents can be more aware that there’s an easily accessible market for second-hand clothing, it can change their attitudes. Also, increases their likelihood of continuing what I call sharing behavior, whereby parents take better care of baby clothes as a result, increasing their lifespan. Yes, we all know that you can gift clothes to a close friend, charity, or recycle. I thought that there must be other ways that could benefit my family too. Subsequently, I have started exploring second-hand marketplaces to resell clothes. I must admit that most of the clothes that I kept were in excellent condition and some pieces were unworn.
I made a list of the things that can potentially help parents see alternative ways. It is important to sustain clothes for longer, save money, and do good for the planet.
What To Do With Unwanted Baby Clothes:
- Pass Baby Clothes Along. I think this is the option that everyone has tried at least a couple of times in life. Give away your children’s clothes to a sister, brother, family member, or close friend. And I mean, why not? This is one the simplest ways to recycle old clothing and make someone else happy that they could save money on clothing. Surely, you would give me the best clothes and the ones that you think are in great condition. And others still might be thrown away. But this is one of the great options for parents to do, unquestionably. I have been given clothes by my sister on many occasions as her son is one and a half years older, and it works just fine for us.
- List On The Marketplace. That’s exactly what I have tried once my baby outgrew the clothes. I have listed the items on eBay. However, I have not managed to sell them as people were not so interested in preloved items back then. Now, I have found another marketplace where you can sell and buy sustainable second-hand items – everused. Listing clothing and other items has made my life so much easier as many clothes are in such good condition. I need extra money for growing a child’s clothes. I have sold items and looking to buy from the website as well.
At everused you can find many sustainable items, meaning they are made sustainable, eco-friendly, and should last longer. This puts my mind at peace. I know that clothes are high-quality and don’t have a negative impact as much as fast fashion clothing at retail. On the platform, you can find and list many popular items such as Next, M&S, and Primark. However, I am looking more for sustainable children’s brands such as Toby Tiger or Picalilly. They offer a wide range of selections that are from organic materials.
- Donate. If you believe that listing on the marketplace is not for you and don’t have any relatives to pass clothes along, another great option is to donate clothes to your local favorite charity shop. Charities are welcoming your donations; however, it doesn’t mean that the item will be sold, worn again, or even looked at. Charities receive many donations and select only quality clothes to sell, sadly, the rest goes to waste. In addition, there are huge operational costs and energy demands in managing the stock, as every garment is produced as a unique piece rather than manufactured as a batch.
Also, the shop has to dry clean each item and it has an impact on the environment. Frankly, I have donated clothes in the past, before I learned that I can resell them exactly how the charities do and make extra cash for the clothes that I bought and are yet in excellent condition. I am seeing more and more people being careful with their earnings and looking for ways to earn cash, and the marketplace is a great opportunity.
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- Rent. That’s revolutionary for children’s clothing. The concept of renting clothes has been for a while now, but for the children’s niche is it something very recent. One of the popular companies is The Little Loop. The company provides a rental service for children where for a monthly subscription fee, users can choose clothing from the shared wardrobe of more than 10,000 items and then exchange these pieces for new ones. I have not tried the service as yet and haven’t heard who did, but it seems practical when you have many kids. The founder Charlotte Morley established the concept 2 years ago and received investor support for her business that helped her to grow.
The claims that rental service helps to “remove the inconvenience of having to sell on used items at a hugely reduced price. Parents simply swap one item for another when the time comes,” thereby making the idea of sharing rather than buying much more attractive. Moreover, another rental service provider is Bundlee. The company claims that renting baby clothes with Bundlee can help our parents save space by eliminating the need to store clothes that are no longer being used. When a baby outgrows a rented outfit, it can simply be returned, freeing up space for the next set of clothes! This can be especially beneficial for families living in smaller homes or apartments with limited storage space. Bundlee is the UK’s first rental subscription for baby clothes. With Bundles, you can get sustainable styles at a surprisingly affordable price, whilst doing your part to reduce clothing waste.
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- Reduce washing. Yes, we know this is easier said than done with all the nappy explosions that happen in the first few months. Followed by weaning, which can leave the baby and kitchen looking like an immersive Jackson Pollock. But avoid too many washes and spot-cleaning smaller spills where possible will keep clothes in better condition. Help reduce energy and water use (the average washing machine uses 50 liters a cycle). That said, it’s always recommended to clean your newborn’s clothes with a non-biological detergent before the first wear.
Available Children Sustainable Brands
Although people are becoming more sustainable when it comes to clothing, finding a trustworthy brand can be challenging. Some brands might be hiding the traceability of the materials and ethically making it harder for the customer to determine the clothing status. I did some research and found that these sustainable children’s brands are more loved and trusted by parents.
Disana is a German brand committed to making eco-friendly fabrics across children’s clothing and home textiles. They were one of the first movers on improving the quality and sustainability of fabrics. Continues to hold high environmental and social standards throughout their supply chain. As well as clothing, they also make wool covers for cloth nappies.
Holding to high fairtrade standards, LGR is committed to the ethical working conditions of their team of makers in India. Their clothes are made from 100% organic cotton and are designed to grow with your child, making them last longer. The website has many offers, sales, and offers 10% off on your first order. They are making a friendly invitation to new customers and parents.
It’s a great Swedish brand with many fashionable items available to purchase. Over 99% of their products are made from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Modal. They focus on limiting the use of chemicals throughout the supply chain, as well as having a responsible approach to waste. MR look to prioritise social rights in the manufacturing clothing, sourcing factories with sustainability and fair labor as key criteria. In Sweden, they have available second-hand options to the customers, and are promoting the availability soon arrive to in the UK.
UK-based company where 80% of PO.P’s range is made of either GOTS, BCI, or recycled materials. They offer sales and special offers as well as have a category to purchase second-hand pieces sent back from the parents online. It is pretty simple; the parent can send the item that is outgrown for a bigger size and category. Their garments are designed and made with the intention of having a much longer lifespan than average, reducing the need for excess production.
Many options to get new, branded, and sustainable children’s clothing with an option to trade back to the brand, keep, or sell. Different platforms available such as everused, eBay, Vinted and Depop. Nowadays, parents do have more options and should not think that there are limits to children’s clothing. I believe, as a parent myself, I can inspire other parents to consider and explore those options while making the right decision for you. However, it is vital to consider other alternatives and benefits not only for our families but also for the environment.
Final Thoughts
Up until now, buying second-hand has been seen as a social thing. People buy second-hand if you’re forced to for affordability, but I think that’s changing dramatically now people are motivated environmentally. We should go beyond making it acceptable to make it a number one option for parents. Selling your baby’s preloved clothing isn’t just a transaction; it’s a contribution to sustainable fashion. By participating in preloved clothing deals, you’re extending the life cycle of garments. Also, being a part of a movement that aligns with conscious choices for both your baby and the planet. I recommended joining marketplace like EverUsed to sell sustainable used clothing effortlessly to my family and friends. There are many other options mentioned above that might be the right thing to do for you.
I believe our actions can inspire others to embrace preloved clothing deals. Contributing to preloved clothing donation centers and creating a positive ripple effect within the circular fashion movement.
