How A Baby Clothing Subscription Can Improve Your Wellbeing

When considering baby clothes, the impact on your mental health and wellbeing probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But, what if I told you that it can not only make you happier but our society overall as well?

Clothing subscription services work by lending you clothes and then allowing you to return them when a new season is coming up, you’re looking for fresh styles, or need a different size. For babies, bigger sizes are needed constantly and the accumulated clothing over the first two years of their life can become a huge pain. A subscription service eliminates that burden and frees up physical and mental space. Tradle customer Sarah reports that “I am often telling friends that without Tradle, we would be burdened with three times as much clothing which needed to be stored in our small space.”

Sarah’s little one wearing Tradle style, credit: Sarah Bell

 Research has confirmed negative impacts on wellbeing and additional stress from cluttered homes. This can especially influence children with studies indicating that cluttered spaces may be detrimental to attention, cognition and learning¹. This is even more important now with homeschooling on the rise. A report analyzing the lifestyle benefits of minimalism found enhanced feelings of freedom due to less time spent cleaning and organizing¹. This freedom allowed the self-identified minimalists to spend more time with family and friends and invest in experiences. Multiple studies prove that spending money on experiences leads to greater happiness than material objects².

Parents know that quality time is the best gift they could give their kids

These teachings are all built into a new idea called the wellbeing economy. It is proposed as an alternative to our current growth economy that focuses on ever increasing profits above human and planetary health. The current gross domestic product (GDP) growth model allows vast income inequality as corporations look to cut costs across production for better shareholder outcomes. Epidemiologists have discovered a close correlation between income inequality and rates of mental illness³. The wellbeing economy puts people and our planet first, and profits second. It emphasizes relying on the circular economy to reduce our need for raw natural resources and supporting innovative business models that encourage sharing and giving⁴. This is already being pioneered in New Zealand where the country based their 2019 budget around societal wellbeing and focused on mental health services, reducing child poverty and preventing family violence^5.

An illustration of the circular economy, credit: The Porto Protocol 

The Council of the European Union created a quick two-minute video to illustrate this idea visually. 

An illustration of the shift to a wellbeing economy, credit: Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Admittedly, clothing subscription services are a small part of this much larger shift to a more sustainable and just society. But, in the words of Tradle’s founder Blyth Gill, “Tradle is about more than just clothes and the circular economy. It’s all about helping people live their best life.” The vision of the service is to not only reduce waste but to improve the lives of their customers.

Tradle member Rebekah reviewed that her favourite part of the service is peace of mind. She says, “I don't have to worry about stockpiling or organizing clothes. I don't have to worry about shopping trips, and the health and safety of my family. I don't have to worry about the impact of my purchasing decisions. Tradle has a mission to make positive change in the world and it just feels great to be part of that!”

If you want to be part of the Tradle family too, visit our how it works page to learn more.  

________________

1 What a Society Designed for Well-Being Looks Like | Yes Magazine

2 Building Back Better: Principles for sustainable resource use in a wellbeing economy

3 New Zealand 'wellbeing' budget promises billions to care for most vulnerable | The Guardian

4 Towards a Theory of Minimalism and Wellbeing | International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology

5 Buying experiences, not possessions, leads to greater happiness | American Association for the Advancement of Science