Kids clothes are the absolute best. I love buying clothes for my two children and find the whole experience way more fun than shopping for myself. I’m a big fan of small, independent children’s clothing brands, especially those making proper attempts to be sustainable, but these often come with a higher price tag. That’s why, I genuinely believe shopping pre-loved is the way to go. You can pick up some amazing bargains while helping to keep unwanted clothes out of landfill. What’s not to love?
I spend an unhealthy amount of time searching for the best places to pick up pre-loved clothes for kids. Instagram is a dream for pre-loved finds, but charity shops will always have my heart. I almost don’t want to share my favourite places for shopping pre-loved kids’ clothes, but I’m no gatekeeper, so here are the absolute best places for buying the coolest pre-loved and vintage clothing for children.
Vinted
I’ll start with the obvious. Vinted is a dream for picking up second-hand kids’ clothes and if you’re not already shopping there you really need to be. The search function makes it easy to filter your search for specific brands or ages/sizes, and I find it’s best for picking up bargain barely worn high-street kids’ clothes from brands like Zara and Next.
Charity shops
Charity shops rule. I have found some absolute crackers in our local charity shops, including the coolest vintage monster truck t-shirt for 50p which my son wears on repeat. Of course charity shops will be hit and miss – some days I find the rails full of cute kids’ clothes, other days not so much. But I love the thrill of the hunt and supporting circular fashion while helping to raise money for a good cause is always worth putting in the time and effort for.
Lamb London
In the past few years I’ve noticed a massive surge in Instagram accounts dedicated to sourcing and selling pre-loved or vinted children’s clothes – and Lamb London was one of the first ones to catch my eye. This is character knitwear heaven, with the absolute coolest selection of hand knitted jumpers featuring everyone from E.T to Miffy. They cater for a wide age range, from babies up to 8-9 years, but you need to get in quick as all the items are one-offs. Go, go, go!
Be Diddy
Charity shop queen Kayleigh is behind this amazing Manchester-based business. Be Diddy is essentially full of dream charity shop finds for kids, with lots of ‘wish that was in my size’ clothes. The majority of finds are for pre-school or younger kids, but you can still pick up some absolute gems for older kids. Again, you need to be quick when a new vintage drop hits the website as these sell out quick.
Bokkie & Rilla
I love knitwear and thankfully my kids have inherited this love of all things cosy, because I’d be distraught if they wouldn’t wear the many Bokkie & Rilla beauties I buy for them. Here you’ll find sweet curated and customised knitwear, including their much-coveted smiley face knits. I love the quality and how original each piece is. My Bokkie & Rilla collection is getting out of control. Please send help.
One More Time in Circulation
Covering a wide age range from babies up through to primary school age kids, One More Time in Circulation is a goldmine for picking up designer kids’ brands like Bobo Choses, Mini Rodini and The Animals Observatory at a fraction of the cost. With an ever-changing mix of pre-loved goodies to choose from, it’s worth a regular visit.
Fun Finds
Nostalgia heaven. This awesome Instagram account – Fun__Finds__ – is a dream come true for 90s kids, with a truly unique selection of vintage kids clothes and toys – we’re talking Disney classics like The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rosie and Jim. I’ve managed to bag an authentic vintage TMNT t-shirt for my 7 year old and the coolest oversized tie-dye Lion King tee, which my 4-year-old currently wears as a dress. LOVE IT.
r m dsgns
I’m obsessed with everything Rachel Malli from r m dsgns comes up with. Her hand-painted, upcycled kids’ trainers are INCREDIBLE. Transforming tired old Nike and New Balance trainers (among others) Rachel gives them a new lease of life with her signature smiley faces, spots and checkerboard designs in the coolest of colourways. I have been coveting her creations for so long and ended up buying a pair 2 sizes too big for my daughter, which look even more beautiful in real life. I’m properly counting down the days until they fit.
If you’ve got any gems to share, I’d love to hear about them! Comment below…
The Kids Are Good 
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