8 supa savvy ways to make your kids' wardrobe more sustainable

The ultimate way to go is to buy things already in circulation. And massive marketplace brownie points are the lower prices. Facebook is a great way to start and there are loads of branded groups reselling clothes so go check them out.   

If a quality pair of trousers have a small hole (a cute reminder of when your little babe hurtled themselves down that terrifying bike track), you can get supaaa cute little patches to iron or sew on that will extend the life of your garment. Involve your wee ones in what they choose and let them help you sew them on (well, involve them for at least the
one minute you have their attention).  

When you do buy, invest in quality pieces that will last more than one child’s tumble testing. Look for organic materials and eco-friendly dyes that have been produced with a lesser impact on the planet and for brands that are also pre-washed so they don’t shrink after the first wash (pretty proud that Sunny Folk is all of the above… just sayin 😏).

Certifications give credibility to where your material has come from, as a general rule certifications indicate the fabric has been produced adhering to high standards of environmental and social criteria. There are a LOAD of different certifications, but below are some of the main ones:

• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – which is what we use at Sunny Folk
• Fairtrade Cotton Standard
• Cotton Made in Africa
• Organic Cotton Standard

By buying ethical brands you are empowering talented artisans and workers in communities around the globe and ensuring greater social responsibility. Check out Ethically Kate’s guide to ‘shop good brands’ (which we are super proud to be a member of).

Unless clothes are in tip-top condition the sad truth is a lot of what gets donated to charity stores ends up in landfill. With garments that have a little wear and tear (but are still useable), instead of defaulting to charity stores, consider gifting (or selling) to someone in your network. Just think … that paint-stained tee would be perfect kindy wear for your neighbour Jude’s kids!

Get your gal pals together, bring your babes, bring some vinos and bring your kids old clothes, shoes, hats (you get the jist). And given kids grow so fast, organize them every 6 months or so – clothes you started with may well end up back with you if you have a second… or third bubba.

Don’t worry your little folk are already there… you just need to get on board. Washing your clothes less is better for planet mum. We’re not saying have grubby little monkeys stinking up the joint, but consider spot-cleaning stains that come-off easily, rather than knee-jerk machine washing as a default.

So there you have it, a few tips to make your little folks wardrobe that little bit more sustainable. Drop us a line if you have any other suggestions xx