With families reportedly paying over £200 for a new full set of school uniform, cash-strapped parents across the UK will be looking for a way to cut costs - especially when the cost-of-living crisis is already tightening the pockets of the nation.
Research by UK affordable footwear retailer, Wynsors, found that one of the main ways parents have been trying to cut uniform costs is by buying second-hand. By carrying out a survey of more than 1,000 British parents, Wynsors uncovered that 1 in 5 parents are buying second-hand school uniforms this year.
With England's Department of Education also recently making it mandatory for schools to have second-hand uniforms on offer, schools and charities across the country have been inundated by demand.
Google searches for ‘uniform swaps’ have seen an 80% increase when compared to last year, and there has been over 300 tweets on the topic since the start of July. There are over 402k views on TikTok for the hashtag #uniformswap, showing how more and more parents are getting thrifty this back-to-school season.
To help parents looking to host their own uniform swap, Wynsors has also put together some tips to arm parents with the knowledge on how to get started:
- Check what’s already out there – Most communities may already have a uniform swap set up, so it’s best to check before getting started. Your help might be better suited to helping an established uniform swap reach new members, rather than setting up your own.
- Set up a Facebook page – If there isn’t a uniform swap for your area or school, you’ll need a place to organise and promote it. Starting a Facebook group is an easy and free way to create a place for parents to start swapping.
- Publicise on the playground – For a uniform swap to be successful, you’ll need fellow parents to swap uniform pieces with. Make sure to mention it to others when picking up your kids from school, or better yet, ask the school if they’ll mention it on your behalf.
- Don’t over wash the uniform – When it comes to swapping old uniforms with other parents, make sure not to over wash the clothes beforehand. It’s always best to wash on a lower heat, so you’re not at risk of damaging or shrinking an item that could be donated.
- Repairing and sharing – Sometimes kids can play rough, and their uniform can end up with the odd hole or loose stitching. This doesn’t mean it can’t be donated though. Still try swapping an item, even if you think it’s no longer of use - another parent may be able to repair the damage and make use out of it.
Frankie Blair is a schoolwear buyer for John Lewis. With over eight years in retail - including time with John Lewis and Arcadia - she shares her top 10 hacks that she’s learned when it comes to buying school uniforms.
Keep your eyes peeled for discounts
“To help customers save money amidst the cost of living crisis, many retailers are offering discounts across their school uniform ranges this summer.
“For the first time ever before the new school year, we’re running a 25% off promo on our entire own-brand schoolwear range, which customers can enjoy until Thursday, September 3.
“We’re also offering 20% off all Clarks, Start-Rite and Kickers school shoes until Monday, August 28, with £2 for every pair of shoes sold going to our Building Happier Futures Fund, which supports children in care.”
Donate your old school uniform - and get paid for it
“MyJohnLewis customers can get £5 off their next school uniform purchase by recycling their old school uniform items through our FashionCycle initiative.
“All that customers need to do is sign up to our MyJohnLewis loyalty scheme, which is free to do, and bring in five or more items of pre-loved clothing to any of our fashion counters.”
Prevent wear & tear
“As everyone with children knows, their clothing takes a lot of wear and tear, we therefore recommend that customers opt for stain resistant fabrics.
“We use a fabric protector on more than half of our own brand school uniform items that’s proven to resist water based stains for at least 20 washes."
Save time on ironing
“We know how stressful and time-consuming it can be getting your little one’s dressed and out the door on time for school. We therefore encourage customers to opt for either Easy Iron or Easy Care items, which require less ironing if washed to the care label instructions."
Do your homework
“Navigating the ‘off to school’ shop can be a minefield, especially if it’s your first time. But there’s plenty of online advice available - including checklists.
“We also offer tips on our website on how to measure your little ones, so you can buy the perfect sizes, even when shopping online.”
Invest in the future
“When it comes to children, we know how quickly they grow… children typically gain 5cm in height a year, so it won’t be long until they need the next size up."
Don’t forget the shoes
“When it comes to children’s shoes, we know one size doesn’t fit all. If your child has particularly wide feet, look for brands that offer width fittings in shoes.
“We currently have an exclusive range of affordable ‘Simply by Start-Rite’ shoes which come in two width fittings for smaller sizes."
Avoid a trip to lost property
“Especially when children have school-issued bags, it can be easy for them to get mixed up or lost.
“Distinctive charms or key rings are a great way to personalise a generic school or PE bag - for example our bright and bubbly Knitty Critters Jellyfish Keychain. Another top tip is using nail varnish to label your child’s name on their water bottle. ”
Buy generic
“With government guidance encouraging schools to move away from branded school uniform items, we expect more customers to look to us for jumpers and blazers this year, which they can then personalise by ironing or sewing school badges on to.”
Make use of the experts
“Our Partners are always on hand to make the back-to-school shopping experience as easy and stress-free as possible. As well as providing advice on uniforms, they’ll also be able to recommend less busy times for shoe fittings and find quieter spaces to support our neurodivergent customers.”
