The 10 Best Stylish-And-Sustainable Buys For Babies And Children
In ‘Get Your Greens’, an ongoing series in line with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, British Vogue explores how the industry is advancing towards a greener future.
You could conceivably dub the childrenswear market a pioneer of sustainable fashion. The very nature of clothing designed to sit next to the fresh, sensitive skin of a baby has meant that childrenswear brands have led the way when it comes to using organic or sustainably-produced materials. But more than that, the new wave of baby brands are showing an increased sense of purpose and textile innovations in their quest to produce ethical collections from source to rails.
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Cassandra Rhodin, the founder and creative director of childrenswear brand Mini Rodini (and mother-of-three) started her brand in 2003 when she couldn’t find clothing that was stylish but also sustainable for her newborn son. “Back then, everything was conventionally produced and very gender stereotypical, but I always believed that sustainability and quality should be top priority when investing in new clothes. For babies and children it is even more important as their skin is so sensitive.”
Rhodin advises looking for labels that have become the hallmarks of her brand: Tencel, GOTS-certified cotton and GRS-certified recycled polyester, as well as looking for transparency when it comes to manufacturing controls, including chemical use and working conditions. “If we all choose more wisely what we spend our money on, we can give kids a better and cleaner future,” she adds.
Read More: The Vogue Editor’s Guide To Baby Essentials
She’s right – there is something about buying sustainable pieces for the future generation that feels utterly essential. From the clothes you put on their back, to the shoes on their feet, the bag that you carry their essentials around in (because, let’s be honest, there are so many essentials) or the products that you use on their skin, below is a comprehensive round-up of the brands that are as much about substance as they are about style.