Finding sustainable, ethical clothing for adults can be hard, but finding it for kids can be even trickier! I am a firm believer in ‘Slow Fashion’, which, among other things, involves investing in quality, timeless items of clothing that will last years rather than micro-seasons. However, for kids that doesn’t work… they just grow too damn quickly!

So here are a few of my tips for embracing Slow Fashion for kids, followed by my top ten sustainable, ethical New Zealand kids’ clothing brands…

Hand-me-downs

Embrace the amazing world of hand-me-downs! Whether it be family, neighbours, or community free-cycle pages, hand-me-downs are a great way to get more life out of clothes than have been grown out of.

Second-hand clothing

Check out your local second-hand shops, or online buy and sell groups.

Caring and repairing

Ok, I know kids can be tough on clothes (my youngest is currently going through a phase of knee-sliding… need I say more??!!). However, we can do some simple things to make their clothes last longer. Washing clothes less can extend their lives a lot. I do the ‘look and smell’ test, and if it passes, it goes back in the draw! Spot cleaning is another great way to look after clothes. Mending or patching a hole when it’s tiny can save a lot more work down the line. After all, a stitch in time DOES save nine!

Support local

Local markets are a great place to find handmade treasures and support local artisans.  Or online, Felt is a great website for clothing from NZ creators, or search for NZ makers on Etsy.

Quality over quantity

When you are looking for new clothes, look for brands where the focus is on quality rather than mass production. Look for brands that can tell you where their clothes were made, and who made them. Look for brands that use durable, natural fibres.

These brands are not always easy to find. In fact, it’s far easier to whip into Kmart and buy more than you need for next-to-nothing.  But I’ve tried to make sustainable kids’ fashion a bit easier for you, by putting together this list of my top NZ sustainable and ethical kids’ clothing brands. I’ve included a price guide and an age guide to help you find the options that are best for you and your little ones.

10 Sustainable NZ Kids’ Fashion Brands

Hoopla Kids

Hoopla Kids is based in Wellington, and stocks organic, gender-neutral Scandinavian kid’s clothes. I love that you can send any of your used clothes back to them, and that they have a ‘re-loved’ collection. It’s also fair to say that I’m pretty obsessed with their fix-it patches.  Hand made in Wellington from off-cuts that may otherwise end up in landfill.

Little Yellow Bird

Little Yellow Bird is a truly ethical, sustainable, fairtrade business. Every aspect of their production is traceable.  You can find out about every part of it (from where and how their cotton is grown right through to their paper and cardboard packaging) on their website.  They also have a ‘textile take back’ recycling initiative where they will take unwanted cotton garments from any brand, in any condition, and recycle them back into the textile production chain.

Dimples

Buck & Baa

Freedom Kids

Thunderpants

Nature Baby

Band of Boys and The Girls’ Club

Crywolf

Wilderling

When it comes to sustainable clothing for kids, remember that it’s about buying less, choosing well and making it last.  For me, I am lucky to have a fantastic network of quality, lovely hand-me-downs.  I know that not everyone is so fortunate to have that, but if that’s you, perhaps second-hand or freecycling pages could be an alternative to explore?  Because I get given so much of the kids’ clothing for free, I feel ok about investing in one or two good quality, sustainable and ethical outfits per year.  I try to avoid the big fast-fashion stores, but occasionally I see something in a window that I just can’t resist… and I don’t beat myself up about that.  As always, it’s about progress, not perfection.

Juliet is the founder of The Great Eco Journey  Join her community of thousands of kiwis wanting to reduce their waste & fight climate change on Instagram & Facebook.