One secret to being a more eco friendly mom? Buying sustainable clothes for kids that grow with them!
By Lora O’Brien
Before I had children, I used to daydream about all the stuff I would get for them. I’d buy some great eco-friendly toys. I would look for the same awesome Dr Seuss books I loved (and lost) as a child. I’d make them healthy, tasty meals. And of course, I’d get loads of teeny, tiny cute clothes. Wee shoes especially made me swoon!
Fast forward several years. As a mom, not only do I now care more for the planet and the impact all things we purchase have on it, but I’m all about making what we do have last as long as possible.
But that being said, it’s not easy to be an eco-friendly parent. Children grow at a rate that still shocks me. And that means buying more clothes. They can outgrow stuff in a mere matter of months!
But there are ways to make clothes last. For example? Buy sustainable clothes for kids that expand with their growth. There are more of these than you’d think! But I’ve also got some tips for shopping ethically for babes that will save some money, and save the planet a bit, too.
Tips for shopping ethically for children
Thrift: Children really do outgrow clothing before it’s had a chance to be damaged, and a lot of parents will take outgrown clothing to charity shops. I always pop in there to find a few items I love! Plus, it’s a budget-friendly way to shop ethically.
Swap clothes: I know some people already do this, but I think it should become the norm. What better way to get new clothes and share clothes that no longer fit your child than by swapping? It’s a beautiful way to keep your children looking cute without buying excess new stuff they’ll quickly outgrow.
Buy a size bigger: This is my top secret when it comes to buying clothes for my daughter. I prefer her clothes to be on the baggier side anyway. There’s nothing cuter than seeing her snuggled in an oversized sweatshirt! But buying her clothes one or two sizes bigger also means that her clothes last even longer. She’s approaching 3 and still wearing some of the outfits I bought for her over a year ago.
Quality over quantity: I get it, mamas. Dressing children can get pricey. I’ve been lured in by cheap fast-fashion brands before now and my daughter has had blisters from cheap shoes and outfits that have fallen apart after the first few washes. Clothing made from solid, organic materials will always cost more than fast fashion. But it’s true that you really do get what you pay for!
Look for sustainable clothes for kids that grow: Yep, this is a thing! Clever designers have realised they can create expandable clothes for kids that are stretchy, adjustable, and able to grow with children. Some can even be wiped clean of food! Think it sounds too good to be true? Read on!
The Best Expandable Clothes For Kids
There are some fabulous brands out there really making it easier to shop for ethical clothes for kids that grow with them. Made from quality materials, these clothes are designed to expand as your children do. Which means they’ll last longer and stick around long enough to be passed down to future generations. Cool, huh?
1. Jackalo
Whether you’re shopping for boys or girls, sustainability is at the core of this family-owned brand. Hoping to inspire the future generation to repair and reuse instead of adding to the throwaway culture of today, Jackalo makes sustainable clothes for kids that grows with them thanks to efficient cutting practices to reduce the waste generated. And any scrap fabric that is produced is recycled, upcycling the larger scraps where possible.
Every process is thought out from the organic cotton used (much kinder to your baby’s skin), to the use of energy-efficient factories to reduce waste and recycling.
What we love: Jackalo offers a Trade-Up program for when your children really do outgrow their clothing. Swap your old clothes for a discount to be spent on new items. The old clothes are cleaned up, repaired, and then resold for a discount. It’s a perfect circular fashion option, right?
Based: USA/Internationally
2. Nine Clothing
Nine Clothing is a Canadian brand of expandable clothes for kids. Everything is made from durable, high-quality fabric that fits children from ages 0-6.
The Nine Clothing team designs are hand-drawn and printed using non-toxic, eco-friendly inks on GOTS certified organic cotton. This allows parents to show knowing that the clothing is not only better for the planet, but the materials used to make them are kind to their little ones, too.
In the spirit of sustainability, Nine Clothing is a brand that strives to reduce its ecological footprint by providing modern parents with a range of clothing options. These sustainable clothes for kids that grow with them are designed to fit children for the different stages of life. Not only will they expand with your children, but they’ll fit comfortably for real life, whether it’s having a cuddle, playing with toys or taking a tap.
What we love: The range is really extensive, and provides lots of options for both genders. The designs are really subtle, so they’re great for mixing and matching. A bonus is that the brand also creates 3-in-1 maternity, nursing and postpartum tops and dresses for women.
Based: Canada/Internationally
3. Beya Made
Beya Made is one of my personal favourite expandable clothes for kids brands! It was created by mum Laurel who is a self-proclaimed recovering fast fashion designer.
She ditched designing clothes for one of America’s best-known baby and toddler brands after realising how disposable children’s clothing is. Today, she designs sustainable clothes for kids that grows with them, and lasts for around 3x longer than typical ranges.
All Beya Made clothing expands with your child’s growth. The eco-friendly brand uses textile waste, transforming it into some of the most sustainable clothes for kids ever.
What we love: These are gender-neutral heirloom garments for families to treasure.
Based: USA
4. Snug Bub
Snug Bub are not only making clothes for kids that grow with them, but also garments that can easily be wiped clean! That means less washing. It’s a mum-miracle!
For example, their 100% organic cotton onesies grow easily with little babes thanks to the footed pyjama design. The adjustable and detachable booties and sleeves help to keep them in these from the day they’re born right up to beyond their first birthday. They’re also covered in a non-toxic stain-proof material that can be wiped down.
Snug Bub also caters to toddlers with their range of rompers. Not only do they grow with them thanks to the two sets of buttons that adjust the length to suit growth spurts, but these also have bibs built into them, too.
What we love: This brand really has thought everything through. It was thoughtfully created to grow with your children, from babies, to toddlers. The range is also gender neutral.
Based: USA
5. OM Baby
OM Baby was created by a woman whose views on clothing changed when she became a mother. I hear that! She wanted to clothe her babies in items that were ethically made from natural fabrics. That inspiration still stands five years later.
Hand-printed in India and handmade in England, all of OM Baby’s childrens’ wear range is made to order. That way, they never overproduce garments. Working alongside Indian artisans, OM Baby uses all natural processes are used to limit their impact on the planet.
What we love: OM Baby products are made with extra space for cloth diapers, but this also gives a little bit of room for growth spurts. Items like the loose harem pant designs have lots of space for little legs to kick and crawl about, but this will also ensure the clothing lasts that little bit longer.
Based: UK
Photo: @leoniefreemanphoto Styled @andtheywear
6. Petit Pli
When we think of sustainable clothes for kids that grow with them, we think of expandable clothes for kids. You know – stuff with buttons and snaps you can adjust. But what if clothing could quite literally grow for years? Well, now it can thanks to the innovative brand, Petit Pli.
Founder Ryan Mario Yasmin is a proud uncle. He gifted clothes to his newborn nephew – only for them to already be too small when they first met! This life lesson showed him just how much childrens’ wear failed to recognise the rapidly changing bodies of tiny humans.
Inspired by aerospace engineering, Petit Pli provides a new and dynamic way to approach garment design. One item is suitable for all growth rates in our children. Yep, these are clothes that actually expand with your children’s growth!
What we love: Using technical materials that are ultra-lightweight, reinforced, rainproof and breathable, Petit Pli aims to clothe the future of humanity. Whether you’re looking to buy trousers, a t-shirt or a romper, the range can be worn by kids from 12 months up to 5 years!
Based: UK/Internationally
We only found six. Do you know of any other expandable clothes brands for kids? Please let us know in the comments below!
- Vegan Pizza Recipes To Die For - December 2, 2024
- Our Ethical Christmas Gift Guide For 2024 - November 29, 2024
- 20+ Savory Vegan Pie Recipes For Dinner - November 18, 2024
Columbia Sportswear, an outdoor lifestyle brand, also crafts clothing for growing kids with their exclusive Outgrown™ system. Little explorers, big world!
Thank you for letting us know!