A Guide to Eco-Conscious Baby Clothes

Let’s start with organic cotton, a fabric that you'll find in abundance across our collections. The Textile Exchange describes organic cotton as being "grown in agricultural systems that work with nature, rather than against it," and that the organic way of farming "combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the environment, promoting fair relationships and improved quality of life for all." Choosing organic means less of the bad stuff, like chemical-rich pesticides which drain into soil and water causing contamination. What's even better is that this fibre is also naturally strong, soft against skin and breathable, making it a great choice for your baby's wardrobe. 

There's organic cotton, and then there's GOTS-certified organic cotton. Think of this as a badge of honour when it comes to this natural fibre. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS for short) looks at every step of the cotton production process, even those beyond the farm. From harvesting and spinning the yarns right through to the finished product arriving in store, everything is monitored and assessed to the highest standards. The association also takes into consideration any social impacts along the way to make sure employees are treated with the utmost respect. The result? A production line to be proud of. 

Reuse, repurpose, regenerate is the name of the game when it comes to recycled fabrics. Here, innovation and technology work in harmony to transform would-be waste materials — we're talking plastic bottles, old textiles and even abandoned fishing nets — into new clothing for your little one. Brands like The Bonniemob and Stella McCartney Kids are advocates of this material and you'll find it used across many pieces in their collections, typically replacing the use of synthetic fabrics, like polyester, to create everything from raincoats and swimwear to mini outfit sets.

Linen is an incredibly versatile and sustainable choice for baby clothing and accessories. Made from the fibres of the flax plant, it is a renewable resource and grows at an impressive rate without the need for nasty fertilizers and pesticides, and it requires less water to grow and process compared to other crops, hooray! This fabric also has lots of other properties that are just as kind to your baby's skin as it is to the environment. Linen is naturally breathable and hypoallergenic, plus its strength means that it’ll stand the test of time, wash after wash, wear after wear. What's more, pure linen clothes are biodegradable, leaving no long-term impact on the environment.