A Northern Ireland dad has launched an online school uniform shop that is 'good for people, planet and purse'.
Liam Charlton-Killen, who moved back to Co Down from Manchester after becoming a father to two adopted children, has launched his business 'Ethical Schoolwear'.
It's based at his Crossgar smallholding and the new venture marks a change in direction and one that was prompted by the communications manager's relocation as well as his experiences as a parent.
Read more: Northern Ireland families see disposable income fall again
Since Liam became a parent seven years ago, when he and his husband adopted their son, he realised he asks a lot of questions such as, 'What’s that? Where’s it from? Who made it? What’s it made from? How much?'
Many of these questions have been about school uniform - deciding to set up a shop himself and Ethical Schoolwear was born.
Liam said: "It’s for people who are trying to do the right thing for the planet, the people who make school uniform, the kids who wear it and the grownups who pay for it."
Ethical Schoolwear is an online shop, offering plain and embroidered school uniform and only sells items that have been produced by B Corp certified suppliers.
A certified B Corp is a for-profit enterprise that meets “the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.”
The business has also pledged to plant a tree for each sale, and the trees can be named by the customers.
Having grown up surrounded by fields, Liam is a self-confessed nature lover which has been boosted by his children’s desire to look after the planet.
Liam plans to increase the amount of wildland by creating more woodland and native hedgerows to act as nature highways.
He said: “I hope that by creating an oasis for wildlife, as well as a carbon sink to absorb CO2, that our small efforts can make a lasting difference
“Each tree will absorb nearly a ton of CO2 in its lifetime.
"Customers will have the option to name their tree and I will post the planting on social media so that they can explain to their kids the positive impact their uniform is having on the environment.”
In addition to a range of affordable plain uniform, Ethical Schoolwear is already selling embroidered items for Cedar Integrated Primary School in Crossgar.
Liam says he is already in talks with more Northern Irish schools. To find out more, CLICK HERE.
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