Where to Buy Organic Cotton Clothing (for children)

Organic cotton is not just better for the planet, wildlife and water, but also better for the delicate children of skin (especially those with eczema). It also lasts longer, as fibres have not been treated with chemicals. And does not release microplastics in the washing machine.

For any synthetic fibres, launder in a microfiber filter.

It’s important that babies don’t overheat (remove hats, socks and cardigans in warmer temperatures and don’t let babies sleep in car seats). Aneby has excellent posts on dressing babies in layers and dressing babies for sleep. Also find safe sleeping advice at The Lullaby Trust.

On a Budget? Rent Children’s Clothing

Many of the brands below are rented out by companies that let you send back used clothing, to replace with bigger clothing as your child grows. This avoids fashion waste, and enables you to afford good brands, without the hefty price tag.

Bundlee and The Little Loop are two companies and My Wardrobe HQ is a peer-to-peer lending library run by parents and small boutiques. Some libraries, schools and churches may offer similar services.

You can donate clothing to help families in need (Stripey Stork has a nationwide list of clothing banks, to help families in need (read above for safety if donating baby clothing).

Aneby (stylish organic clothes for children)

Aneby (also sold on Etsy) is a clothing brand for children, producing stylish items made with organic cotton – good for the planet, and for a child’s delicate skin. Designed in the heart of Shropshire, all items are made ethically from premium fabrics.

This brand was founded by a fashion graduate and pattern stylist, who had worked for major companies. After gaining the technical knowledge, she used it to create more sustainable clothing for children.

Aneby collections are not ‘fast-fashion, but in timeless styles that can be handed on to younger children, and transcend seasonal fads. Designed to last for years, each item is designed to be stylish, enduring, sustainable and to be joyful to wear.

Most items are in neutral colours, to enable easy mix-and-match outfits, and often designed to accompany slightly bigger cloth nappies for younger children.

The range includes:

• Dresses
• Tops
• T-shirts
• Dungarees
• Sweatshirts
• Jackets
• Hats

Aneby advises to avoid tumble-drying, to help clothes last longer.

Items are made in limited numbers, to avoid fabric waste. All clothing is sent in plastic-free packaging, from compostable bags made from sugar cane, to paper or cardboard packaging.

Aneby’s Take Back Scheme

Aneby’s Take Back Scheme is unique, in helping to reduce the 350,000 tonnes of clothing that goes to landfill each year in the UK, especially children’s clothes due to growing bodies. Once your child has outgrown an item, you can send a minimum of 3 items back to the company, and receive an email with a voucher valuer for future purchases.

Any condition is fine (items not good enough to reuse, can be recycled due to natural fabrics), just retain proof of postage.

Toby Tiger: Fun and Bright Organic Clothing!

Toby Tiger is one of England’s best organic clothing brands for children, instantly recognised for its bright and colourful designs, from dribble bibs to dungarees and party dresses.

The clothes feature colourful easy poppers, adjustable shoulder straps and super-soft reversible fabrics, with strips and appliques to tell a story for curious little imaginations. Bound to raise a smile on the faces of children and grownups everywhere.

Toby Tiger also offers a return & earn service, where you can send back outgrown clothes (from any brand) to add to their library, for others to borrow. Return labels are free.

You then get a voucher for your next purchase (the more clothes you send in, the bigger coupon you receive). Or join the Toby Tiger Club, where you can get further discounts on orders and referrals.

Polarn O Pyret (organic clothing from Sweden)

Polarn O Pyret offers Swedish organic children’s clothes. As well as offering sustainable clothes for children, you can take advantage of the PO.P repairs service (just briefly say what the issue is with a photo and the label, and proof of purchase).

Their Second Hand Main offers good trade-in prices for items that have grown out, with the ambition that each piece of their clothing is worn by three children.

Ducky Zebra: Playful Clothes for Positive Change

Ducky Zebra clothing is one of the few clothing brands for children in England, that is made with certified organic cotton, in a range of fun and colourful designs, with input from  at least 50 little ones themselves, to know what they like to wear!

Some clothes are still pink and blue, but always used alongside other fantastic colours, to keep the range fairly gender-neutral, so you can pass them down to brothers or sisters! However, the clothes are neutral colours, as research shows that most children prefer to wear bright colours.

The clothing is also designed to promote kindness and fun. So no ‘cute passive’ designs for girls and ‘aggressive predator’ designs for boys. Girls can be strong, and boys can be kind! The idea is to send out messages of kindness and confidence, as children grow.

All the clothes include an embroidered ‘splash motif’ to encourage children to be kind and confident, even during tough times.

Ducky Zebra’s fun designs are quite unique – from Yorkshire Moors (a frog and hippo enjoying a walk and cycle together – no doubt new territory to our hippopotamus friends!).

The clothes have poppers on the shoulders for easy dressing (for certain sizes) and are made from soft organic jersey, which is kind to sensitive skin.

These clothes are designed in England and made in India (to reduce costs to consumers). Their partner in India uses 50% (soon to be 85%) of power from solar, and also harvests rainwater and recycles all waste water. Offcut fabrics are made into recycled yarn, or donated to charity for re-use.

The brand runs two reuse programmes:

Turtle Dove London (for everyday comfort)

Turtle Dove London offers 95% organic cotton garments for children, but also for mothers like nice maternity dungarees. This company does not over-buy stock to prevent fashion waste. All dyes are azo-free and this is kinder to the skin and the planet.

This company provides an alternative to cheap fast fashion, believing that good sustainable clothing should not cost the earth.

Frugi Circular Clothing (to be passed on)

Frugi Circular Clothing offers organic cotton garments to keep in use for as long as possible, then moves them onto new homes or materials, for less waste and better value. Just like your parents and grandparents, clothes can then be passed on to others.

We don’t recommend Frugi footwear, as it’s made with leather, instead choose children’s vegan footwear.

What is Circular Clothing?

Circular clothing is a system that keeps garments in use for longer, then returns materials to the loop. It starts with better design and better fibres, continues with repair and reuse, and ends with recycling where possible. Unlike fast fashion, it does not rely on churn. It values quality and careful use of resources.

There is also a clear financial benefit. Durable items outlast cheaper options, so cost per wear drops. Adjustable fits help a jumper or pair of trousers cover more months of growth. A bright, gender-neutral print can move from one child to the next without fuss.

The brand also makes lovely natural rubber wellies for girls and boys in fun styles, with no PVC.