Brighton families get a cheaper route to school uniform

Families in Brighton and Hove have a new way to reduce back-to-school costs by buying, selling or requesting pre-owned uniforms from their phones.

The Smarter Uniforms Marketplace covers school clothing, PE kits and Yondr pouches. Almost 900 local families have already used the initiative, which has kept uniforms in circulation since 2017.

New branded-uniform limit takes effect this September

From September 2026, schools must limit compulsory branded uniform items to three or fewer, with an additional tie permitted for secondary pupils. The restricted items can include blazers, jumpers and branded sportswear.

The national school uniform rules are intended to make required clothing more affordable without removing the shared identity associated with school dress. For families replacing several items at the start of term, the branded-item cap also widens the scope for using standard garments alongside school-specific pieces.

The source announcement does not identify how individual Brighton and Hove schools will apply the limit. Parents and carers may therefore still need to check their school’s current uniform requirements before choosing sizes and items through the marketplace.

How to find pre-owned uniform locally

Smarter Uniforms has launched a Marketplace app through which families can buy, sell or request uniform from a phone. Parents and carers can visit the Smarter Uniforms website to learn about the service, download the app and browse available stock.

The request option provides another route when a required item is not already listed. Families with clothing that no longer fits can also offer it for sale, allowing usable garments to pass directly to another household.

Uniforms, PE kits and Yondr pouches are available

The Smarter Uniforms Marketplace is not limited to classroom clothing. Its listings can include school uniforms, PE kits and Yondr pouches, giving families one local place to look for several types of required school equipment.

Availability will depend on what other users list or offer through the service. Checking the correct school, garment type and size remains part of the buying or requesting process.

Reuse cuts costs and keeps clothing out of landfill

Brighton & Hove City Council says extending the life of uniforms can reduce textile waste while making school clothing more accessible. Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, described the initiative as a practical response to continued pressure on household budgets.

“Keeping school uniforms in circulation for longer reduces waste and prevents good quality clothing from ending up in landfill,” she said.

Families can now use the Smarter Uniforms website to download the app, view available items or request the uniform they need.

Source: Brighton and Hove City Council