Words by Smiley Team
As we approach the summer holidays, Marks & Spencer is quick off the mark to launch its school collection. This year their uniforms for little people come with a big difference. Designed to be extra durable and “hand-me-downable”, the collection will allow pupils to return in September wearing something that protects the planet’s future and hence, their own.
Their most sustainable school collection yet Back to School is designed by M&S Kids in partnership with Clarks. Launching with a 20 per cent discount on all items, it promises high quality and sustainability, allowing parents to pass the clothing down through their family without as much wear and tear.
Head of M&S Kids, Alice Duggan, said: “We’re really proud to serve little ones who we know care about the big things, and as a major uniform retailer, we have a responsibility to keep working on making our offer more sustainable and kinder to the planet.”
She explained that this year they have included more recycled items than ever before, and have transitioned to using organic cotton.
For over a decade, M&S has been building their commitment to sustainability, becoming the first major UK retailer to sell kids’ clothing made from organic Fairtrade cotton in 2006.
As time passes and environmental awareness increases, customers are showing an ever greater desire to shop more sustainably. During the pandemic, this has lept even higher, with more than 50 per cent of M&S customers surveyed saying they are more conscious of sustainable clothing options in this period.
It’s on this basis that M&S has made a concerted effort with their new schoolwear. For the first time, it has switched to organic cotton for all its knitwear, jersey clothing and sweaters. This means that each garment was produced from fibres free of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers that are so harmful to insects.
Considering finer details, the brand has also introduced sustainable viscose, thread, buttons and interlining as well as other trimmings. They’ve also incorporated more recycled polyester than in previous years.
Among all the industries contributing to climate change, the textiles and garment sector has one of the largest carbon footprints. In total it accounts for around 20 per cent of global water wastage and 10 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, nearly 90 per cent of the fibres used to produce clothing are incinerated or end up as landfill, according to the World Bank.
Increasingly, larger brands are latching onto the importance of sustainability, with more independent brands popping up in recent years to offer an alternative to fast fashion.
Learn more about sustainable fashion from Traid, a pioneering charity that tackles clothing wastage.
