Breaking the Cycle of Overconsumption in Kids’ Fashion: Jackalo on Under the Influence Podcast

Parents are overwhelmed by the pressure to buy more, more, more—especially when it comes to kids’ clothes. On Jo Piazza’s Under the Influence podcast, Jackalo founder Marianna Sachse shared why fast fashion isn’t the answer, how sustainable kids’ clothing can save families money in the long run, and why circular fashion for children is key to a healthier planet. Here are some highlights from the conversation.

What happens when our kids blow through clothes faster than we can buy them? For too long, the answer has been fast fashion—cheap, poorly made garments that don’t last. But there’s another way forward.

Recently, Jackalo’s founder, Marianna Sachse, joined Jo Piazza on the Under the Influence podcast to talk about how families can rethink back-to-school shopping, embrace sustainable kids’ clothing, and why circular fashion is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight overconsumption.

The Problem with Fast Fashion for Kids

Fast fashion has created a cycle where parents expect clothes to wear out quickly, which only reinforces the demand for more disposable clothing. As Marianna explained on the podcast, many children now outwear their clothes before they even outgrow them. The result? More waste, lower quality, and higher long-term costs for families.

Why Buying Less, Buying Better Matters

The most sustainable choice parents can make is to buy less and buy better. Investing in durable, responsibly made clothing means one pair of pants can outlast three or four pairs of fast fashion alternatives.

For families on tighter budgets, secondhand remains the best sustainable option. Choosing better-made brands—even secondhand—means clothes are more likely to last through multiple children, creating a ripple effect of reduced waste.

This is especially important during eco-friendly back-to-school shopping, when the pressure to buy “all new everything” is at its peak.

Repair, Reuse, and Circular Fashion for Children

At Jackalo, circularity is built into everything we do:

• Reinforced design: Longer-lasting clothes, like pants with stronger knees and shirts that grow with kids.
• Sustainable materials: Organic cotton, deadstock fabrics, and soon, post-consumer textiles.
• Trade Up program: Families can send back outgrown Jackalo clothes (even if they’re stained or ripped). We renew and resell what we can—and recycle the rest responsibly.

Repair is another critical step. Whether through simple at-home fixes, visible mending, or community mending circles, repairing clothes extends their life and keeps them out of landfills.

This is what circular fashion for children looks like: clothes designed to last, designed to be repaired, and designed to stay in use for as long as possible.

Shifting Stigma: Why Secondhand is Cool

One of the most hopeful changes? Younger generations see secondhand kids’ clothing as something to be proud of, not ashamed of.

As Marianna shared, younger kids often find joy in hand-me-downs from older friends or siblings. Instead of being “less than,” those clothes carry stories and connections that make them feel even more special. And for older kids, thrifting is a trend that we at Jackalo are thrilled to see re-emerging.

Parents as Change-Makers

Parents have more power than we realize. By choosing sustainable kids’ clothing, embracing secondhand, and normalizing repair, families can create a culture of consumption that works for both kids and the planet.

As Marianna put it on the podcast, every action adds up—and it’s possible to make parenting easier and more environmentally responsible at the same time.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Under the Influence here. 

👕 Explore Jackalo’s circular kids’ clothing collection below ⬇️