Written by Jess Rigg, head of sustainability at Y.O.U Underwear - an award-winning sustainable fashion brand and the UK’s Top B Corp and the top fashion B Corp globally.

From newborn to high school, there are over 20 different sizes and children can grow very quickly - especially in the first year!

Rather than buying lots of clothes frequently that will end up in landfill, you can both save money and the planet by shopping more sustainably and mending your child's garments rather than just throwing them away.

We’re exploring five different ways that you can make your child's wardrobe more eco-friendly…

1. Renting Clothes

One great way to guarantee clothes that fit your (or your young ones) style is by renting clothes on a monthly, or shorter term basis.

Whether it’s for a special event, or your child is growing so quickly that you can’t keep up - renting allows you to try, wear and then send back the items. Which are then reworn by other people!

2. Buying Second Hand

One of the more obvious ways to shop sustainably is by buying nothing new, and shopping in charity shops or online on sites like Vinted, Facebook Marketplace or EBay. By keeping those clothes in the cycle of being worn, we can prevent them from going to landfill! Plus, if they’re still in good condition, you can donate them once they don’t work for your family anymore, or re-sell them online.

3. Loved Clothes Last

By taking care of our clothes, we can extend their lifespan. Washing on cool and avoiding tumble dryers is a great start, as is ensuring that garments are washed with similar colours. If your items become damaged, repairing them or upcycling them is another way to reduce textile waste and reinvigorate their wardrobe.

4. Sustainable Materials

If you’re buying new, why not go for sustainable materials like Organic Cotton, or Hemp?

Y.O.U Underwear has a bralette for girls ages 9 and up, that’s made from GOTS Certified Organic and Fairtrade Cotton. They also donate 2 pairs of underwear for every pair sold, to support vulnerable women and girls who don’t have access to underwear across the UK and Africa. 

5. Swapping

Why not have a swap party with fellow parents in your local area - perhaps from Facebook groups, your child's school or a local baby class? You can categorise by age, style or item type (eg. top or jeans), and everyone can swap one-for-one to go for the next age or size bracket, or if you need a summer dress rather than a winter coat. It’s also a great way to engage with other parents!

We hope that this blog post has given you some inspiration for creating an ethical closet for your kids, and helping them to learn more about sustainability and taking care of their clothes - which we hope will last through their teen and adult years! Resulting in more conscious children who will be guardians for our planet.

We are pleased to offer a 10% site wide discount at Y.O.U Underwear until 30 June 2022. Use code IOPT10.

Written by Y.O.U Underwear

About Y.O.U underwear

Y.O.U underwear makes soft, stylish, organic cotton underwear for men and women and girls that lets you look good, feel good and do good. We’re an award-winning sustainable fashion brand with a difference.

Our mission is to improve access to education for women and girls by donating underwear. We have a buy-one-give-two promise in partnership with Smalls for All, a Scottish charity that collects and distributes underwear to vulnerable women and children in Africa and the UK.

Our underwear is Fairtrade, PETA-approved vegan and made from 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, and we work with one of India’s leading ethical and sustainable manufacturers. We’ve also embraced ethical marketing, and actively promote body positivity through our brand imagery and marketing strategies.

We're the UK’s Top B Corp, and are the top fashion B Corp globally, proving our commitment to people and the planet.