SAKI'S SUSTAINABLE DAILY - VOL. 14 – Borderless Creations

Hello!

I’m Saki, Borderless Creations’ Ambassador!

Today, I’d like to share some thoughts and research on a topic I’ve been pondering: “How can I make kids’ clothing more sustainable?”

1. Challenges of Kids' Clothing

2. Learning from the Past: Sustainable Ideas for Kids' Clothes

Hand-Me-Down Culture
Alterations and Resizing
Darning and Repairs

3. News About Clothing Repairs and Reuse

＜Challenges of Kids' Clothing＞

Kids grow so fast, their clothes quickly become too small.
You need extra clothes since they often get dirty.
It feels wasteful to discard clothes after just one season.

Today, while it’s easy to buy cheap, mass-produced clothing, it’s hard to ignore the environmental impact and ethical concerns of fast fashion.

I started to wonder, “How did people in the past manage kids’ clothing?”
This question led me to explore some helpful insights!

＜Learning from the Past: Sustainable Ideas for Kids' Clothes＞

1. Hand-Me-Down Culture

In the past, it was common to pass clothes down to younger siblings or relatives.

Although hand-me-downs are less common now due to changes in family size and structure, many communities are actively promoting clothing recycling and reuse!

Komaki City, Aichi
In 2019, over 5,000 people took home more than 16,200 items of children’s clothing.

Taito Ward, Tokyo:
A program called “Children’s Reuse Closet” distributes clothing for free at the Himawari Environment Interaction Center.

Fujisawa City, Kanagawa
Hand me down event on 18th-19th Jan!
https://jmty.jp/kanagawa/eve-chi/article-1ej3qo

You can also find clothing exchange events by searching on platforms like Jimoty. Be sure to check out your local events!

2. Shitatenaoshi - Resizing

In the past, people often adjusted children’s clothing to fit their growing bodies, especially with durable garments like kimonos.Today, you can replicate this idea by buying larger clothes and adjusting them smaller! This way, your kids can wear the clothes much longer. You can find many simple resizing techniques on YouTube, and I’m excited to try them myself (even though I haven’t sewn anything since high school)!
Found on youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXzMPP_tAvk

3. Darning and Repairs

Darning is an eco-friendly and adorable way to repair clothes. I haven’t had to deal with holes in my kids’ clothes yet, but I’m eager to try darning when the time comes. It’s a sustainable and creative way to extend the life of garments while adding a personal touch!

<News About Clothing Repairs and Reuse>

M&S Fixed by SOJO

British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has partnered with repair service SOJO, making it easy to repair their products. Repairing start at just £5 and you can complete the process online! This makes it easier for people to keep their clothes for longer, even if they’re not expensive. It’s great to see sustainable practices becoming more accessible!