Hand-me-down hacks for your child's wardrobe

When it comes to keeping your child’s wardrobe stocked, hand-me-downs from family, friends, or your oldest child’s old closet are a saving grace. 

Not only is reusing and recycling old clothes good for the environment, but it’s also good for your pockets and is a great way to get creative with what you already have. 

If you’ve been passed a bin bag of your friend's old baby clothes, you may be wondering what to do with half of the stuff in it. Or maybe you don’t know what to do with your child’s old clothes that they no longer need. That’s where we come in. 

With just a few of our clever tricks, those pre-loved pieces can feel just as special as anything fresh off the hanger. You don’t have to sacrifice style or quality for a modern, versatile wardrobe.

The dot system: simplify sorting

The dot system is a game-changer for sorting hand-me-downs and keeping everyone’s wardrobe in check. 

If you have more than one kid, their clothes can quickly merge, and it’s chaos to figure out whose top is whose. Luckily, there’s a simple way to fix this problem: assign a colour to each child and add a dot in that colour to the labels of their clothes. 

Even better, write their initial (or full name if they’re the same) with a permanent fabric pen. This way, you won’t rifle through baskets and boxes trying to remember who wore what and if they have outgrown something yet. 

What to do with hand-me-downs

Whether you’re preparing to store hand-me-downs for your next kid or you don’t know what to do with the clothes you’ve received, here’s a list of the things you should be doing. 

1. Storage solutions: keep it fresh

Before packing away any clothes for storage, give them a good scrub and wash to make sure they’re fresh before sitting idle. 

Invisible stains (like milk or juice) can oxidise over time and look worse than you remembered. Always make sure they’re completely dry before storing to prevent mould. 

We also suggest ditching the bin bags and opting for airtight containers—not only does this help you quickly check what’s in a box without having to root through it, but it also keeps moths and dust at bay.

Extra tip: Toss in a few lavender sachets or cedarwood balls to keep pests away and clothes smelling lovely. 

2. Label everything

There’s nothing worse than sorting through boxes of clothes, not knowing what age the items are, whether they’re boys' or girls’ clothes, or what type of items are in them.

For this reason, sticky labels and markers are your best friends. You can sort the clothes out by size, gender, and type and add a sticky label or write in marker on the container to make retrieving them quick.

3. Inspect the quality

If you’re passing clothes to someone else or keeping them for later use, always inspect the items for holes, stains that won’t go away, or broken zips. If something is beyond repair, consider recycling it instead. 

If you’ve received a box of hand-me-downs containing a few broken zips or loose threads, don’t give up on them just yet. A simple fix or visit to the seamstress can have the items looking brand new.

4. Keep designer pieces in circulation

Good quality designer pieces, like the kids' designer clothes we sell at Village Kids, last longer than high-street items, making them perfect hand-me-downs. 

Plus, their value tends to go up over time, making them perfect for reselling in the future. If you’re gifting or you’ve received designer items, then these make for great, timeless pieces; it’s something that never goes out of style.

5. DIY personalisation: make it unique

With a little imagination and effort, you can breathe new life back into old hand-me-downs.

Maybe you’ve received a few items from someone else that aren’t really to your liking? Or your youngest child is more fussy about their outfits or has a unique style. If so, we have a few easy tricks to turn these items into something new:

• Iron-on patches: Clothes patches come in a variety of designs, from animals to galaxy themes. They are a great way to add personality to a plain top and cover up stains or holes.
• Stitches: If you're handy with a needle and thread (or want to try it), add a few decorative stitches to cuffs or hems. You can add a contrasting colour for a pop of fun or stitch in a small pattern.
• Fabric paints: Get your child involved in a creative project and use fabric paint to decorate an old top or jumper. You can freehand a design or use cookie cutters, sponges or stamps for shapes like hearts, dinosaurs, or letters.

6. Seasonal rotation: stay ahead

Before each new season begins, crack out the storage boxes and go through what can be added to their wardrobe and what can be put away. 

For this, it’s best to label any boxes by season so you know what to grab— that way, you can avoid rooting through a box of coats in summer. 

When a new season starts, pull out the box and do a quick scan: what’s ready to wear, what needs washing, and what can be upgraded with a new piece from Village Kids? 

7. Involve the kids: teach responsibility

Getting your kids involved in the hand-me-down process is a great way to teach them about eco-conscious clothing and money-saving skills for the future. 

This will teach them the value of sharing and reusing and how to care for their clothes. You can turn sorting into a game by getting your box of hand-me-downs and letting them ‘shop’ from the pile. 

Don’t try to force them to wear things they don’t like; just keep them for the next child or pass them to a family member, friend, or neighbour. Older kids can help decide which items are worth keeping and what should be passed on or prepped for donations to charity.

When they see clothes as something to care for (and not just mindlessly consume or throw away), it’s a win for both you and the planet!

Shop responsibly with Village Kids

Hand-me-downs and thoughtful shopping go hand in hand. When you buy designer items, you’re investing in good quality clothes that won’t crumble after a few washes. 

Plus, they last long enough to be passed on a dozen times to different family members, which means you’re really saving in the long run. At Village Kids, we have a great selection of designer kids' wear at affordable prices, perfect for creating a long-lasting wardrobe. 

You can shop new arrivals from the world’s most-loved designer brands today that can handle messy days, snack time, and everything in between.