Frequently Asked Questions

Jackalo creates durable organic cotton clothing for active kids. Founded by mother and environmentalist Marianna Sachse, we design playclothes that are strong enough to withstand daily adventures while being gentle on the planet. We're America's first circular kids clothing brand, which means we buy back outgrown items to repair, resell, or responsibly recycle.

The name originates from a British playground song called "hi lo jackalo". Think Miss Mary Mack, but the UK version.

Our garments are ethically made by skilled craftspeople in fair trade certified facilities in India and Portugal. We maintain complete transparency in our supply chain from seed to closet, ensuring safe working conditions and fair wages throughout production.

Jackalo combines durability with sustainability through reinforced construction, longer inseams for growth spurts, and organic cotton fabric. Our TradeUP program takes back outgrown clothes, and we offer a 6-month repair warranty. We design for inclusivity with thoughtful designs for kids with sensitive skin, gender-neutral styles, and easy-on/easy-off features.

Kids are tough on clothes, especially at the knees. We reinforce the knee area so the pants can withstand crawling, sliding, climbing, and everyday wear.

Lots of pants are reinforced with seams on the inside that can make the pants uncomfortable for kids. Not us! We keep the reinforcement on the outside of the pants with minimal stitching inside, so that they are comfortable for sensitive kids. Plus, this makes the easier for us to repair while ensuring that the comfort level is maintained.

For high-energy kids who play hard, we recommend our heavy duty collection.

Our entire line is designed with sensitive skin in mind, using organic cotton free from harsh chemicals. For sensitive kids, shop our Sensitive collection.

Yes! PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals") are prohibited under GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification, which our fabrics meet. We don't add any chemical fabric treatments—only mechanical processes—so there's no added PFAS, formaldehyde, phthalates, or other harmful chemicals in our clothing. Our commitment to GOTS certified organic cotton and avoiding chemical treatments means your kids can wear clothes that are safe for their skin and the planet.

Most of our designs are gender-neutral with comfortable fits and versatile colors that work for all kids. This approach supports hand-me-downs between siblings and reduces waste. We believe kids should wear what makes them comfortable and confident, regardless of gender.

Absolutely—and there's an important health angle here that parents should know about.

School uniform requirements usually include:

• Navy, khaki, or gray pants
• Simple, solid colors without logos
• Durable enough to last the school year
• Comfortable for all-day wear

Jackalo checks all these boxes:

Our Ash Pants work perfectly as uniform pants—classic lightly tapered, solid color, reinforced for durability.

Our Alex Polo in navy meets most schools' shirt requirements.

But here's what makes Jackalo different from typical uniform pants:

Most uniform pants—even from department stores and uniform specialty stores—contain polyester blends or have chemical treatments (PFAS, formaldehyde-based "wrinkle-resistant" or "stain-resistant" finishes) to make them low-maintenance. Your kids wear these clothes 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week. That's 35-40 hours per week of chemical exposure against their skin.

Research is increasingly showing that PFAS ("forever chemicals") and other fabric treatments may pose health risks, especially for children who are still developing. These chemicals can be absorbed through skin and don't wash out—they're designed to be permanent.

Jackalo takes a different approach:

• GOTS organic cotton means no PFAS, no formaldehyde, no chemical fabric treatments
• Natural fibers that breathe—kids don't overheat during recess the way they do in polyester-blend uniforms
• Reinforced construction for durability WITHOUT synthetic materials
• Adjustable waistbands so kids don't need belts (many schools don't allow them anyway)

Bottom line: Uniforms are worn MORE than any other clothes in your kid's closet. It's worth investing in quality that's both durable AND safe for daily, all-day wear.

Yes—and I designed Jackalo specifically with daycare in mind because one of my own kids was in daycare when I started the company.

Here's what daycare requires:

• Clothes that survive messy play (paint, dirt, sand, playground gravel)
• Lots of crawling, sliding, climbing without developing holes
• Frequent washing (sometimes daily if they come home covered in who-knows-what)
• Easy for kids to put on/off independently (potty training!)
• Durable enough to last the full school year without needing replacement

Why Jackalo works perfectly:

Reinforced knees survive concrete playground slides and gravel. This is THE killer for most kids pants at daycare—even nice brand pants get holes in the knees within a few months. Our reinforcement prevents that.

Organic cotton washes beautifully and gets softer with each wash. Stains come out better from natural fibers. And there are no chemical finishes to wear off, so the clothes don't get weird or stiff after repeated washing (unlike some wrinkle-resistant brands that change texture after multiple washes).

Adjustable waistbands with drawstrings are easier for kids learning to dress themselves. No complicated buttons or zippers to frustrate little hands during potty breaks.

Simple, durable construction with no fancy details that get ruined. No delicate trim, no complicated layering. Just solid, wash-and-wear playwear.

Neutral colors hide dirt remarkably well and mix with everything in your kid's closet. Teachers appreciate that you're not sending kids in clothes that can't get dirty.

Why this matters financially: Daycare clothes take a BEATING. Even if you buy premium brand pants, you're often replacing them mid-year when the knees wear through. Budget pants might need replacing every 2-3 months. One pair of Jackalo pants with reinforced knees lasts the entire school year. That's actually more economical over time.

Many daycare centers have "play clothes only" policies—clothes that can get dirty and destroyed. Jackalo is the sweet spot: high-quality play clothes that CAN get dirty but WON'T get destroyed.

Yes, and here's the honest comparison based on what our customers tell us and what we observe through TradeUP.

Most premium cotton kids pants last about one full season to one school year for one child with regular wear. The construction is good, the fabric is decent, but they're not reinforced at high-wear points like knees. So after 6-12 months of active play, you're seeing wear—fading, thinning at the knees, sometimes holes.

Jackalo pants are built differently:

We use heavyweight 250- 300 GSM organic cotton twill—significantly heavier than standard kids pants. And we reinforce the knees with one to two extra layers of fabric (depending on style) and reinforced stitching specifically because that's where kids' pants fail.

The result? Jackalo pants typically last a full school year (9-12 months) for one child with heavy daily wear, then can be passed to the next child in excellent condition. About 70% of pants that come back to us through TradeUP need no repair at all—they're ready to resell as-is after being through at least one complete child's growth cycle.

For kids the bust through the knees on everything, we’ve been told that our pants last longer than anyone else’s. For these kids, they may still end up with holes in the knees of our pants, but they’ve put of the cycle by months.

Here's the real value calculation:

If you buy premium pants for $55 that last one child but aren't in good enough shape to pass down, you buy new pants for the next child. That's $55 x 2 kids = $110.

One pair of Jackalo pants at $70 goes through both kids = $70. Plus we give you $10-15 back through TradeUP = net cost $55-60 total for both children.

The Jackalo difference isn't just durability—it's designed-for-hand-me-downs durability. Most quality kids brands make clothes that survive one child. We make clothes that survive multiple children.

Check our detailed size chart which includes measurements for height, chest, waist, and hips. Our clothes are designed to fit twice as long with features like adjustable waistbands and longer inseams. When between sizes, we generally recommend sizing up—you can roll up sleeves and cuffs, and the adjustable features ensure a good fit as your child grows.

Jackalo clothes run true to size with extra length built in for growth. Our sizing aligns with traditional kids clothing measurements rather than the generous sizing found at some mass-market retailers. If you typically shop at brands that run large, you may find our fit more tailored. Our adjustable waistbands and longer legs mean you can size up and still get a comfortable fit as your child grows.

Our designs feature extra-long legs, adjustable waistbands, and raglan sleeves specifically to extend wearability. When they size up, many parents report their children wearing Jackalo pants for up to two years. The durability of our reinforced construction means clothes often outlast the child's growth rather than wearing out.

We accept exchanges and returns on unworn, unwashed items. See our returns and exchanges policy for complete details. You can start a return here.

Sustainability is core to our mission. That said, it is always a process. We are committed to always improving. If you have ideas about ways we can improve our sustainability, we are always open to feedback.

We're committed to sustainability across our entire supply chain:

• Materials: We use GOTS certified organic cotton, deadstock fabric, and natural fibers that can be composted or recycled
• Production: Fair trade certified factories, ethical manufacturing in India and Portugal, zero-waste accessories from production scraps
• Carbon neutral: All emissions offset from farm to your front door with our partner SimpliZero
• Circularity: TradeUP buyback program, repair services, resale of pre-loved items
• Recycled and compostable packaging: We avoid plastic whenever possible, but if we can't avoid it we only use recycled plastic. All other materials--tissue paper, paper mailers, boxes, and stickers-- are made from recycled and compostable materials.
• Giving back: Member of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of annual sales to environmental organizations

Learn more about our sustainability practices and circular clothing model.

Deadstock fabric is surplus material that was produced but never used by manufacturers. By using deadstock fabrics in some of our designs, we prevent perfectly good material from going to waste. Our deadstock fabrics are either linen, which is naturally pest-resistant or organic cotton, so you get the same quality and safety standards while helping reduce textile waste.

Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or harsh dyes (no AZOs), making it safer for farmers, the environment, and your child's skin. The natural processing methods create stronger, more resilient fibers that withstand wear and tear better than conventional cotton. This means our clothes last longer, reducing waste and providing better value. Organic cotton is also naturally hypoallergenic and breathable, perfect for children with eczema, allergies, or sensitive skin.

We take a comprehensive approach to waste reduction. We use deadstock fabrics when possible and our factory recycles production scraps, with large pieces being used for accessories like scrunchies, pencil pouches, and headbands.

In our packaging we use recycled materials wherever possible, including recycled polybags, tissue, paper mailers, plastic mailers, and boxes. For any recycled plastic film we use, we recycle that again.

Our TradeUP program creates a circular system where outgrown clothes are repaired and resold rather than ending up in landfills. We also design clothes using only natural fibers that can be recycled or composted at end of life.

To maximize the life of your Jackalo clothes:

• Wash in cool or cold water to preserve colors and prevent shrinkage
• Use eco-friendly, cold water-optimized detergent
• Pre-treat stains with oxygen bleach, castile soap, dawn, or clay powder (depending on the stain type)
• Air dry when possible (reduces environmental impact by 75-80%)
• If machine drying, use low heat
• Wash only when necessary—air out lightly worn items

Visit our Care & Repair page for detailed washing tips and stain removal techniques.

Organic cotton may shrink slightly (about 3-5%) on the first wash because it's not chemically treated. Washing in cold water and air drying minimizes shrinkage. Our generous sizing and longer inseams help accommodate any minor shrinkage.

Yes, but air drying is better for the clothes and the environment. Dryers cause the clothes to wear out faster. If using a dryer, choose the lowest heat setting. High heat can fade colors and stiffen fibers. Air drying in the shade helps maintain color vibrancy—the sun naturally bleaches stains but can fade dark colors if items aren't dried inside-out.

Pre-treat stains as soon as possible with eco-friendly stain removers like oxygen bleach or castile soap. For protein stains (milk, food), enzyme-based treatments work well. Soak stubborn stains overnight before washing. The sun's UV rays naturally help bleach out stains when air drying. Find our complete mending and care guide for more tips.

We offer free repairs on any Jackalo item that rips within 6 months of purchase (you pay return shipping only). After 6 months, we still offer repair services for a fee. Request a repair here. We also have a mending guide if you prefer to repair items yourself. We believe in making loved clothes last!

TradeUP is our buyback program where you can send back outgrown Jackalo clothes in exchange for store credit toward your next purchase. We inspect, clean, repair if needed, and resell items in our Pre-Loved collection at a discount. Items that can't be repaired are responsibly recycled or upcycled. This keeps quality clothing in circulation and out of landfills.

How it works:

1. Log into our TradeUp site
2. Submit your trade-in request and receive a prepaid shipping label
3. Mail your items to us
4. We inspect and send you a gift card for accepted items

Learn more about our commitment to clothing circularity.

This is one of the most common questions I get, so let me break down exactly how our program is different.

Traditional consignment (Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace):

• YOU do all the work: photograph each item, write descriptions, list them, answer buyer questions
• YOU wait for items to sell (could be days, weeks, or never)
• YOU receive payment only after someone buys (minus platform fees, shipping costs)
• YOU handle shipping, packaging, potential returns
• Items sit in YOUR closet taking up space until sold

ThredUp and similar mail-in services:

• YOU send a bag of mixed-brand clothes
• THEY sort and decide what to accept (rejection rate is high—often 60-80%)
• THEY keep most of the profit (you get 5-40% of sale price, they get the rest)
• You have NO control over pricing or timing
• YOUR clothes are mixed with thousands of other brands in a massive inventory
• Rejected items are donated or recycled with no compensation to you
• You wait weeks or months to find out what sold and for how much

Jackalo TradeUP:

• YOU get immediate credit (up to $15/item) as soon as we receive and inspect—no waiting for sales
• WE do all the work: cleaning, repairing if needed, photographing, listing, marketing, selling
• YOU know exactly what you'll get upfront—credit amounts are published on our TradeUP site before you send anything
• Your clothes stay in the Jackalo ecosystem, marketed specifically to customers who already know and love the brand
• Higher acceptance rate because we designed clothes specifically to be circular—we know they'll hold up
• Better credit amounts because there's existing demand for pre-loved Jackalo items

Why we can offer this:

1. We KNOW Jackalo clothes are durable (we designed them to come back!)
2. We have customers actively looking for pre-loved Jackalo items—there's a market
3. Circularity is built into our business model from day one, not a side service
4. Single-brand focus means we can process items faster and more efficiently

Real talk on the economics:

ThredUp pays you 5-40% because they're running a massive operation with millions of items, complex logistics, and they need high margins to make it work. Most items never sell.

We pay better credit (often 50-70% of pre-loved resale price) because:

• We're small and focused
• Pre-loved Jackalo sells consistently—it's not sitting in inventory forever
• We're invested in you buying MORE Jackalo with that credit

Example:
You send in Ash Pants your kid outgrew.

• TradeUP: $12-15 credit instantly (depending on how many you send in), we clean/repair/resell for $35-45
• ThredUp: Maybe $4-8 IF they accept, IF they sell, months later (or $0 if rejected)
• Poshmark DIY: You do 4 hours of work photographing/listing, wait 3 weeks, sell for $30, net $23 after shipping/fees (but what's your time worth? 😉)

TradeUP is about making circularity EASY. You shouldn't have to become a reseller or wait around hoping clothes sell. We handle everything, you get immediate value, and the clothes continue their useful life.

That's the circular model I wished existed when my own kids were outgrowing clothes every few months and I felt guilty about the waste but didn't have time to resell everything individually.

Yes, please—and here's why it matters.

We ask that items are clean (washed and dried) before you send them to us. You don't need to remove every tiny stain—we know kids clothes have lived—but they should be freshly washed.

Why this is important:

Our small team physically inspects every single item to assess condition, determine if repairs are needed, and decide if it's resellable or needs recycling. We often begin repair work immediately.

If items arrive dirty, we have to:

1. Wash them before we can even evaluate condition (stains hide damage, dirt obscures wear patterns)
2. That delays processing for everyone
3. We have to build washing costs into the credit amounts

What "clean" means:

• Washed in your normal wash cycle (cold water is totally fine)
• Dried (air or machine on low, whatever you normally do)
• Free from obvious dirt, food residue, or visible stains you didn't try to treat

What "clean" does NOT mean:

• Perfectly stain-free (organic cotton can show some staining even after washing—we understand that)
• Pressed, folded, or beautifully presented
• Looking brand new

Some stains are fine: We expect play clothes to have lived! Faded grass stains, slight discoloration, worn-in character—that's all normal and expected. We're asking that you don't send us something with dried mud caked on or food residue that attracts bugs in shipping.

Think of it this way: Would you give dirty clothes to a friend whose kid was about to wear them? That's the standard. Clean enough to hand off.

What happens if you send unwashed items?

We'll still accept them, but:

• Processing takes longer (we have to wash first)
• We may need to reduce credit amounts to cover our washing costs
• In extreme cases (heavily soiled, smells), we may have to recycle instead of resell

By sending clean clothes, you help us:

• Get them back into circulation faster for another family
• Keep processing efficient (which keeps credit amounts higher)
• Maintain our small team's ability to handle volume

I know it seems like an extra step, but most families tell me they're washing items one last time anyway before packing them up—it's just making that official.

We really appreciate families who respect this—it makes the circular model work better for everyone.

You can receive up to $15 per item depending on the item type and condition. Visit our TradeUp portal to check eligibility and credit amounts for specific items.

We accept Jackalo clothes in any condition, but request that you send them in clean. Items with minor damage will be repaired and resold. If the damage is too extensive to make resale viable, we will give you a smaller credit for making the responsible choice and recycling with us.  We'll inspect items when they arrive and send you a gift card for pieces either at the full or recycle rate.

Yes! You can trade in any Jackalo product listed in our catalog, regardless of where you purchased it—whether from our site, a retail partner, or even pre-loved items.

Items that can't be repaired for resale are either upcycled into new products (like our scrunchies and accessories) or responsibly recycled. We partner with textile recycling organizations to ensure nothing ends up in a landfill. Our goal is to eventually use recycled Jackalo fabrics in new products, creating a fully circular system.

We ship worldwide from the United States. US orders typically arrive within 3-5 business days after shipping. International orders take 3-5 weeks. We process and ship all orders within 1-2 business days. All US orders automatically include tracking via USPS or UPS sent by email.

Yes! Free shipping on US orders over $150 and international orders over $350.

Unworn, unwashed items purchased in the US may be returned or exchanged within 30 days of fulfillment. You can choose a refund, exchange, or store credit. Jackalo covers return shipping for exchanges within 30 days of delivery. For refunds, return shipping costs are deducted from your refund amount. See our complete returns and exchanges policy for details.

Jackalo is primarily online, but our clothes are available at select retail partners. If you have a local store that you think should carry Jackalo, please send them our direct wholesale link.

Yes! As part of #teamjackalo, brand ambassadors receive 30% off all Jackalo purchases, gift cards, and become part of our community. Apply here. 

Please use our contact page to reach out directly.