Long-Lasting, Eco-Friendly Kids Clothing
Our son (who turns 3 this fall,) has very few articles of clothing. Nearly everything he needs fits into three jute baskets in our closet, while his undergarments and overnight cloth diapers fit in one additional small drawer.
It’s been the same ever since he was an infant. We never buy for his next stage of growth, and focus solely on comfort in the present. We donate anything that he’s clearly outgrown so as to avoid a build-up of articles, and we keep the number of garments that all of us own to a minimum.
The key is finding versatile pieces that can be layered regardless of season, as well as designs that continue to grow over time. Pants with legs that can be rolled up (and then back down again all too soon), and tops with sleeves that can do the same have been helped us keep certain garments in use for well over a year.
Whether we’re here on the beach or visiting our family up north during winter, our son remains comfortable. (We always have 1 major coat, 1 bathing suit, and 1 pair of gloves that fit him at his current size. All of these items fit year-round into one of his designated baskets— nothing is stored separately during off-seasons.)
We prefer to use hand-me-down clothing from West’s cousins, or pieces crafted in sustainable materials that are responsibly manufactured.
Here’s a list of our main resources.
Primary dot com: West basically lived in their zip-up rompers, day and night, until he was 18 months old.
Caribou Kids Clothing: These handmade pants grow 5-6 inches with your child, and the bamboo tops are incredible at keeping skin cool or warm, depending. West has 4 of the tops and they’re our favorites.
Arq Undies: Now that West is out of diapers (he pretty much potty-trained himself somewhere around 30 months old), he wears durable (and adorable) Arq underpants.
O.N.E. Grovia Cloth Diapers: Just to be safe overnight!
Go Gently Nation: We have a Go Gently Nation dress that our son wears at night, or any time he doesn’t feel like wearing pants. We also have a few of their lightweight long-sleeve shirts for nicer occasions. Again, these have fit our son for several months, and I believe he’ll get about another year out of them. I appreciate that they’re produced ethically and locally, cutting back on transport/emissions.
Red Creek Kids: The pants and rompers by Red Creek Kids are stylish, easy to wash, responsibly produced in small batches, and long-lasting.
Rudy Jude: Simple, natural, responsible, sustainable clothing for kids , babies and adults.
Neve & Hawk: We got West’s favorite sweatshirt here. I appreciate their bright, creative designs.
Exceptions: We try to never buy clothing from “fast fashion” sources, as they’re contributing hugely to the climate crisis. However, I’ll admit that in a pinch I found a couple pairs of West’s pants that we like for everyday use on Amazon. While they weren’t my wisest purchases, they are getting a ton of use. They will either be passed down to another child, or used as cleaning rags in the future if they fall apart.
Etsy: If we want to support a cause, get a bit more playful, or find a handmade accessory for our son, we source via Etsy.
