M&S is piloting a UK-wide pre-loved school uniform shop in collaboration with Oxfam and eBay, marking the first time a national retailer has launched such a scheme.
Customers will be able to purchase pre-loved uniform items online as part of the new initiative, which sits alongside the expansion of the retailer’s existing Shwopping partnership with Oxfam, which includes dedicated donation boxes in over 200 M&S stores across the UK.
The move to further embrace the circular economy comes as part of the retailer’s Plan A sustainability programme, which has already seen over 36 million items collected through its Shwopping scheme raise around £23 million for Oxfam.
“At M&S, our clothing is too good to waste. Made with care and with innovative design features, our school uniform is super durable to ensure your kids get up on the playground, it can last the test of time,” said M&S Kidswear director Alexandra Dimitriu.
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“We know our customers frequently hand down our school uniform to friends and family and this season, we’re encouraging them to drop pre-loved school uniform which they no longer need into one of our new Schwopping boxes where it will be resold in Oxfam shops and through our exciting pilot shop with eBay.”
“It’s one of the many ways we’re trying to make our best-in-class school uniform accessible to all families, however and whenever they choose to shop.”
eBay’s head of pre-loved fashion, Lucy Peacock, said: “The cost of living crisis has created greater education poverty and an ever-increasing need for school uniforms with M&S and Oxfam’s life-saving work, and it helps parents here in the UK who may be struggling with the cost of kitting their children out for school.”
Oxfam retail director Lorna Fallon described the scheme as a “win-win initiative” which offered a “simple way for shoppers to make a huge difference”.
“Donating pre-loved school uniforms through the scheme is not only better for the environment, since it gives garments a longer lifecycle, it also raises funds for Oxfam’s life-saving work, and helps parents here in the UK who may be struggling with the cost of kitting their children out for school.” she added.
