Buy recycled clothes for your kids and help save the planet

Q: My kids are growing up and it seems like I’m always buying them new clothes!

How can I save money and make it less harmful to the planet?

A: Children’s clothing is an area of ​​enormous cost and environmental impact.

It can be tempting to pick up cheap, fast fashion for your kids.

But cheap disposable clothes are an environmental disaster. In the UK alone, around 300,000 tonnes of clothing are incinerated or landfilled every year.

One of the best tips is to try to buy less for your little ones, but prefer quality and durable items.

The longer a piece of clothing is worn, the less it harms the environment. Here are some other tips…

Shop smarter when you buy second hand.

You can find real deals.

Oxfam has a great online shop for used children’s clothes.

Founded by a mother of four, Sweet Pea Preloved Clothes is an online store that offers high street and designer children’s clothing at a fraction of the original retail price.

Also check out Katie’s Kids Clothes or Second Snuggle.

And don’t forget to sell any items that are still in reasonable condition or donate them to your PTFA school.

If you’re looking to buy new, consider looking for responsible brands that put sustainability at the heart of their business.

Frugi makes wonderful clothes from organic cotton, which is much better for nature than standard cotton.

Another amazing organic brand is Toby Tiger, which makes fun clothes for babies and children.

John Lewis sells the Swedish Polarn O. Pyert range, known for its durable performance and striking retro style.

Now you can dress your little ones in clothes that grow with them.

Founded by an aeronautical engineer, Petit Pli offers a unique range of durable, waterproof clothing for babies, toddlers and children, made from expertly folded fabrics that you stretch over time.

You can even rent an outfit from the company for £5 a month.

The genius shoe designers of the British brand Pip and Henry are now developing children’s shoes that can be extended by one and a half sizes.

Hopefully it should be available next year.

One way to make your clothes last longer and reduce their impact on the environment is by taking good care of them.

Wash clothes only when you really need to.

Clothes can often be spot cleaned, saving you a load of laundry.

If you do wash, try to do it at 30C or below.