About Smarter Uniforms
Smarter Uniforms have been saving families money & keeping school uniforms in circulation longer since 2017!
Making School Uniforms Affordable & Sustainable
Smarter Uniforms was founded in 2017 in Brighton & Hove with a simple but powerful mission: to keep good-quality school uniforms in circulation, save parents money, and reduce waste.
We started by working with 11 schools across Brighton & Hove, providing thousands of affordable uniforms to families at a fraction of the price of new ones. Our small but dedicated team worked tirelessly—collecting donations, sorting items, and ensuring they found their way back into the community.
But as demand grew, running such a large-scale project with limited funding and volunteers became increasingly difficult. So in 2023, we transformed how we operate to make an even bigger impact with a smarter approach!
How We Help Today
Now, our work is focused on two key areas:
- 🛒 Smarter Uniforms Marketplace – We’ve created an online platform where families can buy and sell second-hand school uniforms easily and affordably. Parents list, grade, and sell uniforms directly to each other, helping to keep costs down and reduce waste. Since launching in April 2023, over families have benefited from the marketplace, and we now have over 600 registered users!
- 🎟️ Uniform Programme – We collaborate with 10 community groups and family hubs in Brighton & Hove who host our uniform rails where families can pick up school uniforms for free, all year round.
Everyone is welcome to help themselves to free uniform pieces, and are encouranged to leave any of their own uniform donation on the rails (if there is enought space) for other families to use.
We also host pop-up stalls at community events and spaces throughout the summer to ensure great-quality second-hand uniforms are available to those who need them.
Our free uniform initiatives are community-led and volunteer-powered, and we hope to keep scaling up to provide even more access to free school uniforms in the future. If you would like to get involved please get in touch with us.
Why It Matters
By reusing uniforms, we’re making a real difference:
- Saving families money – Buying second-hand saves up to 2/3 off retail prices.
- Protecting the planet – Keeping school uniforms in circulation prevents tonnes of waste from going to landfill.
- Supporting schools – We’ve already raised £5,500+ for local schools through fundraising efforts.
The Impact So Far
Our mission is simple: reduce waste, save families money, and keep good-quality uniforms out of landfills. Together, we can make school uniforms affordable, accessible, and sustainable for everyone.
By the end of 2024, Smarter Uniforms has:
- 🌍 Prevented 3 tonnes of textile waste
- 👕 Rehomed over 15,000 uniform items
- 💰 Saved parents over £140,000 on uniform costs
- 🏫 Fundraised more than £5,500 for local schools
Want to get involved? Join us today!
