As parents know all too well, dressing children can be expensive. After all, not only do you have to contend with spills, stains, and tears, but they grow so quickly it can be difficult to keep up. According to a study a few years ago from Ergo Baby, 90% of parents admitted they’d overspent on baby goods and first-time parents in the UK are spending an average of nearly £1,000 on baby clothes in the first year alone. That's a heck of a lot of babygrows.
But there are alternatives, namely a number of kids rental platforms that have sprung up in recent years. One of the most beloved is Dotte. Founded by two mums, Louise Weiss and Samantha Valentine, Dotte is a marketplace for families where they can donate, recycle, buy and sell kids clothing.
Bundlee is another. The UK's first rental subscription service for babies and toddlers that allows you to rent your baby's wardrobe and simply swap it when they outgrow it was founded by Eve Kekeh. Not only does it provide a sustainable solution to buying buy clothes, it saves new parents time and money in the process.
'It’s such a shame that sometimes the 'sustainable' options in life can often be more expensive, less effective, and ultimately difficult to slot into our busy lives' says Kekeh. 'I started Bundlee to help new parents save much-needed time and money, with the sustainability savings from rental built into the core of the business. If we want consumers to make sustainable choices, it’s up to us, the entrepreneurs and business owners to come up with innovative products and services that do all the hard work, and make the sustainable choices a no-brainer’.
How Much Does Renting The Clothes Cost?
On Bundlee, you can choose a monthly price plan (prices start from £24). Then, build a wardrobe from the selection, and your package is delivered to your door, so no need to drag your little one kicking and screaming around the shops, and no manoeuvring prams on the busy high street. The cost also includes insurance and returns, so there’s no need to worry about wear and tear, just keep the clothes for as long as your baby needs (or fits) into them. Shop from some of your favourite childrenswear brands like Patagonia, Mori, Mini Rodini, The Bonnie Mob and Hatley, as well as Bundlee Original’s, an affordable basics capsule collection made from organic cotton.
You don't need to subscribe to either shop or sell on Dotte, where prices start from around £3, and brands include Bobo Choses, Mini Rodini, Organic Zoo and Tiny Cottons. All you have to do is set up a profile, which takes roughly two minutes. Time well spent!
How Many Babies Wear The Clothes?
On Bundlee, clothes are often swapped with at least three families to get the maximum wear out of garments and stopping them going to landfill, but only the most durable clothes are selected as part of the edit. Between babies, clothes are professionally cleaned, quality-controlled and sanitised, so no need to worry about hygiene.
How Does Renting Clothes Help The Planet?
As an estimated 350,000 tonnes of clothing goes to landfills in the UK each year, renting is a circular solution to help increase the longevity of clothing and reduce the environmental impact - think borrowing clothes from a friend or wearing your older siblings' hand-me-downs (but a lot more stylish).
With more of us embracing the fashion rental movement and changing the way we dress, it might only a matter of time before renting children's clothing too becomes the norm, preserving a greener future for the generations to follow.
On Dotte, you can also donate unwanted kids clothes so that they can be recycled (either by finding a new home or being repurposed into something exciting like car seat padding) and avoid ending up in landfill.
The Best Independent Baby Boutiques
1 of 13Vild – House of Little
We love this cool London-based boutique whose clothes are designed to be handed down and stand the test of time. You can expect to see a combination of heavenly eye-catching prints and well-made basics that are not only incredibly soft, but sustainable too.
2 of 13Organic Zoo
If you have the budget then this heavenly collection of 100% organic clothes is for you. Its ridiculously soft unisex babygrows, T-shirts and leggings are all produced ethically in Europe in the chicest neutral tones. We really can't get enough of the minimal, graphic prints and clever use of earthy colours.
3 of 13Annual Store
This boutique came to our attention during lockdown thanks to its cool hand printed 'home s'cool' T- shirts. We also love the tightly curated selection of games and toys, books and arts and crafts kits in fact, everything you need to get your child (and you) through a rainy weekend.
4 of 13Meri Meri
If you have a party to decorate then this is your one-stop shop. With everything from balloons to garlands to plates to party bags, Meri Meri has it covered. It has a surprisingly large array of themes and every single one has been carefully crafted with the sweetest illustrations. On top of this offering, it also has the cutest baking sets, lovely stationery and gorgeous baby gifts. Check it out and you will see why it makes us feel so warm and fuzzy just looking at it.
5 of 13Noodoll
No list would be complete without the inclusion of our favourite soft toys in the world. May we introduce the Ricemonster family. Coming in many shapes and sizes, these ridiculously sweet fruit, veg, plants and animals will be a hit with anyone. The brand has also expanded into homeware, stationery and accessories featuring the same little guys. And with such a range of characters, there really is a Ricemonster for everyone. Although, we'll warn you now, picking between them is very tricky indeed.
6 of 13Mère Soeur
We love this small UK-based brand that has mum in mind, as much as her child. Carrie Anne, the owner and 'purveyor of mama-merch', has an eye for both cute and empowering logos and nice retro type.
7 of 13Not On The High Street
For a huge collection of hand-crafted products from creative independent sellers, you can stop the search, for NOTHS has the lot. With over 5,000 partners, you are guaranteed to find that super-thoughtful, unique gift you can be sure that no-one else has.
8 of 13Molly Meg
This gorgeous little shop is based in Islington and feels like some sort of Narnia of independent design and well, just perfect gifts. It is packed to the rafters with cute stuff that you will love as much as your child. If you are trying to step away from the plastic and embrace the sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing, then this is the store for you. With a huge range of really unique finds that you won't see anywhere else, this is one of our first go-tos.
9 of 13Trouva
If you are unsure on exactly what it is you are looking for, but just need it to be stylish, then Trouva's your shop. Primarily selling homewares, the online store has an excellent curation of independent shops, stocking design-led products. Head to the 'gifts' tab and select 'kids' and you'll find a lovely range of the chicest items.
10 of 13Young Double
We have been huge fans of Young Double ever since we spotted its Breakfast Club sweatshirts. This tiny brand hand-prints all the garments in-house and has a really nice colour palette of yellow, cherry red, greens, browns and neutrals to pick from. Everything in the shop is ethically sourced or organic, and we can personally testify to how well they wash - so your kids can wear them time and time again with no fading or shrinkage.
11 of 13Bobby Rabbit
This dreamy store contains everything kids, homeware and toys. If you are looking to create a magical wonderland for your little one, then look no further. From the cutest rugs and bedding, to gorgeous wallpaper and cushions - this is a child's dream while steering clear of gaudy colours - keeping everyone happy.
12 of 13Tootsa
Tootsa came to us via a friend's recommendation, and we have never looked back. These unisex clothes are all sourced ethically, using the best quality fabrics to allow for a lot of washing. Here you can find the funnest prints that both kids and adults will fall in love with, in the brightest colours that will make you feel cheerful just looking at them.
13 of 13Muthahood
Known for its Strong Girls Club brand, this female-owned business aims to 'empower women and girls through positive, strong and meaningful merch'. And that it does. Here you will find a small - but perfectly formed - range of T-shirts and sweatshirts for both mum and baby.
READ MORE: The Best Weatherproof Kids' Clothes That Will Make Your Life Easier