Back to school eco uniforms

Just over a year ago, mothers and entrepreneur duo Marina and Irina launched their first ethical and sustainable independent school uniform brand, Ecooutfitters.

“This project was conceived when our own children started at primary school. We spent days trying to find school wear which was produced ethically from eco-friendly fabrics, and was not sprayed with any of the stain/crease resistant chemically loaded coatings, but to no avail .”

The school uniform is probably the most important garment in children’s wardrobe, since it is worn by them for at least 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, and yet, when looking for  something that is ethical, sustainable, and organic, there is little choice.

Surprised by the lack of availability of school uniform made from natural, chemical free fibres Marina and Irina decided to jump in at the deep end and create their own uniform range made from ethically sourced, 100% pure organic cotton, certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). “It took us over a year to develop our products, but our efforts were well rewarded as children loved their soft and cosy new uniforms.”

Although green and sustainable living has become a big part of the UK curriculum, the iconic British school uniform, has come to embody the opposite: it is made from cheapest synthetic fibres, and covered with layers of chemically loaded coatings. Some schools are working towards improving their environmental footprint, and there are now different programs in place to help them to do so. Unfortunately, school uniforms more often than not gets overlooked when it comes to implementing these improvements.

Committed to more than commercial success, Marina and Irina attend the schools that opt for Ecooutfitters uniform to provide informative and interactive presentations about the choices behind their new clothing, building a sense of pride and understanding amongst the children.

After the first eventful year, with support and encouragement from their customers, Ecooutfitters are now proud to present their second collection of school wear in the range of new styles and colours. “We are very proud and happy to be able to offer children’s school uniform that are healthy, sustainable, and ethical too, and we hope more schools will embrace uniforms that benefit both children and the environment.”