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Ethical living

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Original poster

Christmas Jumper Day? Wasteful of resources?

36 replies

haba · 30/11/2017 18:19

Am I alone in thinking these non-uniform days in schools are awful in terms of promoting disposable attitude to clothing?
Children grow so quickly, and aren't likely to fit a jumper more than one Christmas, meaning a new one every year, to ostensibly be worn for one day.
Is it going to be awful for DD if I refuse to get one for her, and will she be ridiculed for her parents' hippyish ideals?

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Rectanglute · 30/11/2017 18:20

If you send them to the charity shop or pass them down, I'd say it's perfectly ethical as they'll be used again and again.

EssentialHummus · 30/11/2017 18:22

I’m not a fan for the reasons you give. I’d do my best to jazz up something they already own/ take a pair of antlers/tinsel/whatever.

katymac · 30/11/2017 18:24

Or you (or DD) could decorate an existing jumper

DD sewed a Christmas Decoration and some tinsel on to one for work last year - she had to have 4 different ones, she borrowed one, bought one from a charity shop & only bought one new one

This year she doesn't have to wear any so the 2 she has are packed away for next year (as she is adult) and the other she unpicked and she wore the sweatshirt all year

nobutreally · 30/11/2017 18:26

Our schools have always actively encouraged DIY jumpers - and if you look at the Save the Children info they are very keen to promote this (I know a couple of people who work there and they are encouraged to DIY)
Dcs current school has a competition for the best homemade jumper - shop bought can't enter! Do you have a jumper/top you can jazz up with some tinsel/sew on plastic baubles? The kid who won ds' class last year had sewn battery operated lights all over his (teens, so possibly not suitable if your dd is 5...)

IggyAce · 30/11/2017 18:26

My son seems to grow slowly so he normally gets 2 years out of his jumper at his school they wear it for Xmas dinner and jumper date as well as the school performance. Plus he wears it to visit santa and a few other festive events.
My nephews school asked for people to donate their old Xmas jumpers and then you could buy one for a £1 so the school makes money and those who are on low incomes or who like to buy ethically can still take part.

Original poster
haba · 30/11/2017 18:30

A DIY one may appeal to her, as she loves making things... but do you think others would laugh? (Y7, so new school this time)

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BikeRunSki · 30/11/2017 18:30

My dc’s Christmas jumpers cane from eBay. I’ll give them the charity shop next autumn, and buy bigger from eBay.

BikeRunSki · 30/11/2017 18:31

DIY Christmas jumpers can look really good. Cut out a Christmas tree from green felt, decorate with buttons and ribbons etc.

Original poster
haba · 30/11/2017 18:33

Thanks for the DIY suggestions. We've already been "that family" over the Samaritan's Purse shoebox appeal....Blush

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hazeyjane · 30/11/2017 18:38

Most of the kids I know wear Christmas jumpers that they wear throughout Nov/Dec, sometimes a few years in a row, or customize clothing or wear Christmas pyjama tops.

Dd1's Christmas jumper is a fairisle jumper my mum used to wear in the 70s, I wore when I was a student and dd1 now has worn for the last 2 years. For Xmas jumper day I tack a crocheted gingerbread man on it. I don't think 45 years of wear is too bad!

upperlimit · 30/11/2017 18:44

I have three boys, the Xmas jumpers get passed down and then off to friends, along with Halloween stuff, world book day stuff and school project dress up clothes.

It a perfect blend of laziness and ethics.

BikeRunSki · 30/11/2017 18:45

Thanks for the DIY suggestions. We've already been "that family" over the Samaritan's Purse shoebox appeal...

Us too.

Lily2007 · 30/11/2017 18:49

My DS (ASD) insisted on wearing his Christmas Jumper every weekend, even in June Smile but I hate days were you are supposed to buy things just for the day.

katymac · 30/11/2017 18:50

We've already been "that family" over the Samaritan's Purse shoebox appeal

& I just found out the foodbank I've given to is 'religious' which annoys me - if you're broke, you're broke Sad

YesThisIsMe · 30/11/2017 19:02

I found that a string of tinsel tacked lightly onto a black jumper in the form of a pentangle looks reasonably chic. We also had some lightweight flat snowflake decorations from the late lamented Woolworths which could usefully be tacked onto jumpers.

LadyHonoriaDedlock · 30/11/2017 19:08

Can't stand Xmas jumpers and refuse to buy any so I just gaffer tape a bit of tinsel onto a random cardigan. Fuck that shit.

Original poster
haba · 30/11/2017 19:10

Arf at pentangle!
Pretty sure we can cobble something together....just got to check she actually had a jumper that fits her now!
She keeps on growing...

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SparkleFizz · 30/11/2017 19:45

Depends how often you wear it. The Christmas jumpers my DC have get a lot of wear in the winter, passed down to younger siblings etc.

It’d definitely be wasteful to buy one and only wear it once or twice.

BikeRunSki · 30/11/2017 22:26

I’ve just read that the OP’s dd is in Y7. Aaaaarrrggghhh! I thought the dressing up craziness might stop in high school. Confused

OutandIntoday · 30/11/2017 22:33

Why not get a winter jumper instead- with a Fairisle or Nordic design- that way you get a whole season.

My dd loves a Christmas jumper though and bought a new one today- we bought big so i hope to get 2 yrs out if it. She took the tags off in the shop has worn it all evening and says she is going to wear nothing else all December as she loves it. She is so happy, so for me it is worth it. It will get passed down to friends with siblings. Makes it feel like the start of christmas- she will get big soon enough!

Original poster
haba · 30/11/2017 22:35

Where was it from, please, outandin?

Bikerun- I know! I thought this nonsense would stop now (and am annoyed, as she has ASD, and gets stressed about this stuff)

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BackforGood · 30/11/2017 22:39
  1. Charity shops near here almost always have a rack of Christmas jumpers you can buy, to get round any concerns about buying a new garment
  2. We always accepted 'hand-me-downs' and also passed our things on to other people (again no longer buying a new garment)
  3. Why would a child only wear it on one day ? Confused There are 31 days in December, any one of which is an appropriate day to wear a Christmas jumper
  4. Buy with growing room - a jumper can be baggy or tight, pretty easy for most people to wear for 2 years at least
  5. Make your own.

Don't really see the problem myself.

CharisMama · 30/11/2017 22:42

My son wore the same xmas jumper for 4 years in a row. My dd and I are sharing a dotty p one this year. I get that it would make more sense to spend less and give more though.

BUT I LOVE CHRISTMAS JUMPERS

Badweekjustgotworse · 30/11/2017 22:49

What was the Samaritan shoe box? And why did you get labelled 'that family' over it?
My two are only in playgroup so haven't got to any of these issues yet.
Fwiw I'd DIY the jumper

Original poster
haba · 30/11/2017 22:50

Back- she's at school until 22nd! And with concerts, sports matches, and school... I think she'll wear her own clothes for about 7 times in December. Christmas jumpers aren't really to her taste either, but I know she's anxious about this because it has been mentioned many weeks before the day...

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