In the long term
10:49am Tuesday 5th August 2008
Be top of the class and get first in line for back to school fashions. Maxine Gordon highlights the bargain buys.
SCHOOL may be just out for summer, but it is time to start thinking about the new term.
Shops are filling up with uniform, stationery and lunch-box essentials, and if you want the pick of the bunch, you’d better get your plimsolls on. Leave it too late and you may find the sizes and colours you need have already been snapped up.
Earn yourself a gold star by kitting your kids out now, and with prices as low as ever, and many retailers offering a one-stop-shop for all back-to-school needs, it should be a relatively painless affair.
Start off by sharpening your pencil and making a check-list of what you have to buy.
Have a good rummage through last year’s uniform, keeping items which still fit and putting aside everything else.
Consider passing on old uniform to friends, or even your school’s PTA, which might run a school re-cycling service.
Alternatively, Sainsbury’s has set up recycling points at 320 of its stores to ensure that unwanted uniform – and other items of clothing – doesn’t end up in landfill sites.
And while you’re thinking about the environment, you could be an even more ethical consumer by turning to Traidcraft for some back-to-school goods (www.traidcraftshop.co.uk).
The company sells goods made in the developing world, helping to ensure the producers earn a decent price for their products.
Who could not fall in love with its penguin rucksack and pencil case (£18.50) from producers in India and Bangladesh? Or spread the green and fair trade message with the kids jute bag (£4) with the message printed on the front: ‘cool kids re-use’ – all available online from mid August.
Sainsbury’s has polo-shirts on sale at £2.50 for two, girls skirts and trousers from £4, boys’ shirts from £4 and trousers from £6.50.
Tesco also has many offers. Twin-pack girls short sleeve shirts start at £4.50, pinafores from £5 and cardis from £3 for two. Coats are a steal with a girl’s padded coat with belt and fashion macs starting at a tenner, and a boy’s wool coat from £16.
Matalan has all the basics too, available in ages three to 16. For uniform with a funky edge for girls, check out Matalan’s swing cardi (from £5), tailored black shorts (from £6) and three-quarter-sleeve smock blouse (from £3.50), finished with some buckle pumps (£6).
Summer gingham dresses are £5 (choose from red, yellow, pink, green, blue and navy) or look ahead to autumn and winter with macs and hooded coats and jackets from £10 upwards.
Footwear prices are hard to beat, too: plimsolls are £1.50, boys’ Velcro trainers and shoes are £8, while girls’ bow pumps are a fiver.
Back packs start at £4, while lunch bag and bottle sets are £7.