Last year a War on Want report found that Bangladeshi factory workers were working 80 hour weeks for 5p an hour to feed our growing appetite for cheap clothing. You can now pick up school uniforms at ridiculously low prices but at what cost to people in the developing world?
There are some more ethical choices available though. Kids clothing company, Clean Slate recently came top of the list in the Ethical Consumer magazine for school uniforms. They are trying to raise awareness on the benefits of eco uniforms with all their clothing made from certified organic cotton fabrics and produced according to fair trade principles.
Another useful resource is Uniform2, a free online community for exchanging second hand school uniforms. It provides members with an oportunity to buy good-quality second hand uniforms at a fraction of the cost of new ones and once registered you can also sell the stuff your kids have outgrown including uniforms, books and musical instruments.
For more fair trade and eco-friendly back to school items check out our recycled backpacks, lunch boxes or recycled stationery sets.
