If ever there was a bandwagon to jump on, the sustainable clothing revolution is it.  To truly reduce your family’s carbon footprint, recycling cans and bottles isn’t going to cut it. Don’t get us wrong, any stride to better the planet is worth acknowledging, but do you ever wish you could do more?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfills in the United States receive nearly 20 billion pounds of clothing each year.  These clothes are most likely imported from various countries around the world and are not made with organic materials that are safe for the planet.  Educating parents on how to shop for eco-friendly clothing might seem daunting, but just remember: most synthetic polyesters are not biodegradable.

As markets are shifting towards providing consumers with green products, children’s clothing designers worldwide are also making momentous strides.  Companies such as Fawn & Forest are producing and promoting fashion and relatable packaging that reduces their carbon footprint by incorporating eco-friendly textiles and sustainable manufacturing methods.

Having a basic knowledge of sustainable textiles allows consumers to check more than just the price tag when making a purchase. Recognizing fabrics that are au-natural versus synthetic not only boosts environmental consciousness, but subsequently paves the way for future consumption of eco-friendly fashion.

To help get the ball rolling on curating your child’s sustainable wardrobe, consider these organic fibers and textiles that should make a debut in every kid’s closet.

Organic cotton: Unlike traditional cotton used in clothing, organic cotton comes from plants that have never been contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers, or other harsh chemicals.  Organic cotton is biodegradable and compostable, making it a fiber with low environmental impact and long-term benefits.  Opt for clothing that uses organic cotton instead of conventional cotton to help sustain the environment and cotton manufacturing worldwide. 

Bamboo: This raw material source for organic clothing has become the pinnacle of sustainable fashion.  This über- popular eco-friendly material has become prevalent in recent designs for its extremely low impact on the environment, its soft, flowing texture, and its relatively inexpensive price compared to silk and cashmere.

Soy: Soy fiber is made from the waste product from soybeans after the oil is extracted. It is converted and processed (usually using non-toxic agents and enzymes) into a fiber and made into fabric. Soy fabric is usually extremely soft and warm, making it perfect for children of all ages. 

Hemp: Long-lasting, durable, and sustainable are just a few ways to describe this natural fiber used in several fabrics. Hemp requires no pesticides or herbicides, and grows quickly in many different climates.  Hemp products are soft, and with subsequent washing, become even softer. Check the clothing tag next time and be sure to incorporate hemp clothes into your child’s clothing routine. 

Looking to do a little online shopping with your newfound eco-friendly attitude? Here’s our list of fave clothing stores to help revamp your child’s wardrobe from standard to sustainable.  

The post Conscious Clothing Revolution appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

All summer you have been thinking about the things that you need to do to help your family through the transition back to school but it always felt far off in the future. Ready or not, that time has come!  If the back to school season snuck up on you a little too fast this year, don’t worry!  The Back to School in a Breeze series is here to help you tie up any loose ends and help you set your family up for success this year.  The first topic: back to school shopping.                    

Sure you can scrape by the first few days of school by letting your kids wear their favorite summer outfits but believe it or not, fall weather is right around the corner!  Don’t put it off any longer, it is time to go back to school shopping.

Step 1: Get Organized

Believe it or not, the process of a successful shopping trip happens long before you ever get in the car.  The first thing that you should do is sort through your children’s closets with them to determine what fits and what needs they may have.  Do they have jeans that fit?  Can that snug sweater turn in to a hand-me-down for a sibling?  Make a detailed list of the specific items that each child needs.  This list prevents the magical phenomenon of your child not owning a single pair of shoes as soon as they see the trendy new sneakers at the mall!

Step 2: Make a Realistic Budget

Sit down with your finances and make a serious assessment of how much money you want to spend on fall clothes for your children.  After you have a total, break it out by child.  Being practical about your spending ahead of time will make sure that there are no surprises when the credit card statements come!

Step 3: Schedule Individual Shopping Trips

I know that time is short since school has already started or is starting very soon, but really try to give each of your children their own shopping day if possible.  Giving each kid their own day is not only a great way to spend some quality time with them before they get into their hectic school schedules, but it also sets the trip up for success.  The truth of the matter is that each child may have very different shopping needs, and this way there won’t be fights at the store over who got more.  You will get to give your children your full attention and make sure that you are making the best choices for them and your budget!

Step 4: Develop a Plan of Attack

Decide which stores you are going to ahead of time.  Not only will this save you time wandering around malls, but it will also ensure that you find exactly what you are looking for in the price range that you want.  Try doing some pre-shopping online with your kids!

Step 5: Get Everything on Your List

It is finally time to go shopping!  I recommend getting everything that is on the list first, so that you make sure that the items that they really need have priority.  After the basics are covered you can evaluate if there is room in the budget for extra things, like that bracelet that your daughter is dying to have!

Step 6: Slip in a Surprise!

After all of your shopping is done for your family, take a look at your receipts.  If there is still a little money in the shopping budget, think back to each shopping trip.  Was there something small that your child fell in love with, but didn’t really need?  Consider sneaking back out to the store to pick up a small surprise for each of your kids.  Imagine what a great start to the day it would be for them to come downstairs and see that new headband or wallet sitting on the breakfast table.  I am a firm believer that (when possible) life should have more surprises for no reason!

Bonus Tip: Look for Transitional Pieces

Chances are that your kids are going to want to wear their new clothes as soon as possible!  Help them out by getting versatile clothes that transition from the warm end of summer into the cool fall days.  For girls think about dresses that can be worn with sandals while its warm, then with leggings, a jacket and trendy flat ankle boots when the temperatures drop.  For boys, you can’t go wrong with button-up shirts that can be worn open (with an undershirt) and shorts, or buttoned with pants and a jacket or sweater!

Happy shopping!

The post Back to School in a Breeze: Shopping appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Trends come and go almost as fast as your children out grow their clothes!  With so much changing it’s hard to justify buying your kids pricey, trendy items that will get limited wear.  For me, picking out children’s clothes is about three things: versatility, wearability, and affordability.  I want pieces that mix and match for different looks, I want something that the kids want to wear and are comfortable in, and finally I don’t want to break the bank on clothes that wont fit them in a month.  Following those three key rules, here are two fun outfits for fall!

My go-to place for affordable and adorable children’s clothes is the Children’s Place and you can find all of the items in these two outfits there.  Keep in mind that these specific pieces are just ideas, if you have a go-to store, tell us about it in the comment section below!

For girls I started out with a great sequined sweater dress and some adorable black leggings with rows of sequins down the side.  Since most of little girls I know love two things, sparkles and the color pink, I thought why not give them both?  They have their whole lives to dress with “understated elegance”. This is the age where they get to match sequins with more sequins and feel like a total pop star!  Since the weather is starting to cool off, I added a dark wash jean jacket.  There are few pieces more versatile in a child’s wardrobe than a good denim jacket and it works nicely to balance out the bolder aspects of this outfit.  Next I added some basic wear-everywhere black boots with a fun bow detail on the back.  And finally, a cute bow headband finishes the look and makes taming wild hair a bit easier!  Not only is this outfit super comfy, but it’s also affordable and can be mixed and matched with your child’s other clothes!

For boys I decided to play with layering.  While I know that many adults are intimidated by layering, I am determined to prove that it is so much easier than people think!  Here is my no-fail formula. Start with a tee shirt.  I chose this fun “rock star” shirt from Children’s Place but your son’s favorite tee shirt will do!  Next, pick a button down shirt with similar colors.  I understand that trying to get a boy to stand still long enough to get all the buttons secured takes a great deal of talent, but you can let out a sigh of relief because with this look you get to leave the shirt unbuttoned! Yay! Then throw on a great utility jacket like this military inspired one.  The great thing about all of these pieces is that they can also be worn separately.  The tee shirt would be great for a play date, the button-down can be paired with khakis for a more formal event and this jacket could take you from fall all the way to spring.  Lastly, I finished the look with a pair of neutral cargo pants and cute grey sneakers and voila!, just like that you have a trendy outfit that looks straight out of a magazine! 

Product Info:  All products from ChildrensPlace.com

The post Shop Smarter for Your Children This Fall appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.