Being a parent or carer has to be the biggest multi-tasking job ever. Not only are you teaching your child to navigate the here and now but you’re also equipping them for the future – whatever that may hold.
We all know life in the 21st century has its fair share of challenges and arguably the most pressing is the climate crisis.
According to Earth.org, the global fashion industry is the second-largest generator of CO2 emissions driving climate change.
But there is a shift happening, and Swoperz is a part of it.
Growing numbers of parents, grandparents and carers are switching their kids on to sustainable fashion: laying the ground for a new generation of more mindful consumers.
In this blog, we will explore the many benefits of slow fashion and explain how Swoperz’ clothes-swapping platform is empowering children in more ways than one.
What is slow fashion?
It’s a good question. It is the opposite of fast fashion: the global business of churning out millions of cheaply made garments which are hardly worn before being thrown into landfill.
A staggering 92 million tons of clothes-related waste is generated annually, alongside 20% of global wastewater and the microplastic pollution that has found its way into almost every part of the planet.
Slow fashion brands, in contrast, put quality first. This is clothing that has been crafted from sustainable, robust materials.
They are more likely to withstand being washed and worn many times, making them a solid long-term investment and, for Swoperz users, can be picked up for a fraction of the retail price!
That’s one of the many advantages for us and the planet of slow fashion for kids. Let’s examine a few more.
The ethics of slow fashion
Fast fashion has a reputation for being an unethical industry. Many manufacturers rely on low-paid employees who often work for very long hours in unsafe conditions.
In contrast, sustainable brands aim to support their staff by paying living wages. They limit or exclude exposure to harmful chemicals, and their production process is developed with human safety and wellbeing in mind.
While it’s true that slow fashion clothing comes at an extra cost, when we consider what that money is paying for, that price is more than worth it, for the reasons that follow.
The environmental advantages
Of course, it’s not just people and communities that benefit from slow fashion. The impact on the environment can be felt right across the supply chain, from manufacturer to consumer.
To reduce this, many slow fashion brands use eco-friendly materials to make their gorgeous clothes, as well as sustainable production processes.
When you think of your child’s wardrobe, is it better to have chemical-based bright colours sitting next to their sensitive skin, or high quality, certified cotton that has minimal environmental impact?
Ignore fleeting fashion trends
We are all guilty of splashing out on the latest viral fashion trend, whether it’s the latest in summer footwear or a must-have brand of jeans.
It’s a different story for children’s clothes. Not only do they have to deal with peer pressure to be on trend, their parents and carers are constantly buying clothes that seem to go out of fashion the moment the money is handed over.
Not to mention kids grow lightning fast. Before you know it, their wardrobe is bursting with clothes that don’t fit.
It is worth investing in kids’ clothing from slow fashion brands that are timeless.
Pairing a plain coloured or white T shirt made from certified cotton with jeans from a tried-and-tested sustainable brand will never go out of style.
Unique kids’ clothes
The fashion industry is dominated and driven by the aforementioned trends which leave the majority of us – including kids – scrambling to keep up.
A slow fashion clothing brand may be influenced by the same trends yet still create individual clothing that stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons.
From using sustainable materials such as organic cotton, or environmentally friendly processes or packaging, investing in slow fashion can help the whole family express themselves through style.
Even better, when they grow out of their kids’ clothing or decide they want something new, these quality items will still have plenty of wearability in them.
That’s where we come in.
Second hand, not second best
Not so very long ago, people would wrinkle their noses at the idea of buying pre-loved kids’ clothes. Now it’s one of the biggest trends linked to sustainability.
The internet has opened the floodgates for people looking to sell their unwanted children’s clothing, including items from designer brands. Unsurprisingly, parents and carers have been eagerly snapping them up.
At Swoperz, we know there is lots of beautiful clothing for kids available to buy second hand – our users swap them every day!
Reputable platforms like ours scrupulously vet all the items on the site, so the quality never drops. Slow fashion isn’t just sustainable, it’s giving a boost to the second-hand clothing market.
How Swoperz helps your wardrobe grow with you
We’ve already mentioned how the internet has boosted the sustainable fashion sector.
At Swoperz, we’re proud to be part of this clothing revolution as well as leading one of our own.
Our platform is unique, because the kids take care of all the swapping, while the parents and carers oversee the transactions, payments and posting.
We empower children aged 6-16 to take charge of their own style, swapping their pre-loved clothing with other kids in a secure, age-verified environment.
Slow fashion, kids and sustainability
We believe that giving children the opportunity to buy slow fashion and participate in a cycle for sustainable kids clothing won’t harm the fashion industry or supply chain.
We believe it will improve it.
By the time these kids are 16, they will know that sustainable clothes and accessories can be every bit as practical, enjoyable and fulfilling as fast fashion – without the environmental impact or questionable ethics.
At Swoperz, we hope the principles behind our platform will empower them not just to express themselves through style, but also to ask themselves as grown ups: ‘how does this affect the planet?’ or ‘is this a truly ethical brand?’.
That’s the power of slow fashion for kids.
Start swapping your clothes today
If you’re ready to start swapping your pre-loved clothes and enjoying the benefits of sustainable fashion, that’s amazing!
You can sign up here and grown ups sign in here. Happy swapping!
Contact us
If you have any queries not covered by our FAQs, don’t hesitate to drop us a line at support@swoperz.com between Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.