Brighton families gain a cheaper route to school uniform

Families in Brighton & Hove have a new phone-based way to reduce school uniform costs as national limits on compulsory branded clothing take effect.

The local Smarter Uniforms Marketplace allows parents and carers to buy, sell or request pre-owned uniform through a recently launched app. The service covers school uniform, PE kit and Yondr pouches, helping families find required items without always buying them new.

Almost 900 local families have benefited from buying and selling second-hand uniform through the marketplace since the wider Smarter Uniforms initiative began in 2017.

New branded-item limits apply from September

From September 2026, schools must restrict compulsory branded uniform to three items or fewer. Secondary schools may also require a branded tie in addition to those three items.

The limit applies to compulsory clothing carrying school branding, including items such as blazers, jumpers and sportswear. It is intended to reduce the number of garments families must obtain from particular uniform ranges while allowing schools to retain clothing associated with their identity and community.

In practical terms, the cap may reduce the number of school-specific pieces a household needs to find. It does not mean every school will require the same three branded garments, however, or that all other uniform requirements disappear.

Parents and carers should therefore check their own school’s current uniform list before buying or requesting anything. Confirming which pieces must be branded—and which can be unbranded—can help families avoid obtaining an item that does not meet the school’s requirements.

How to use the local uniform marketplace

Families can visit the Smarter Uniforms website to learn about the scheme, download the Marketplace app and browse available listings. Through the app, users can buy an advertised item, offer an outgrown uniform for sale or post a request for something they need.

A practical way to start is to identify the required garment, school and size before searching. Because stock comes from items placed on the marketplace by local families, availability will vary. If the required item is not listed, users can post a request rather than relying only on the current selection.

Before completing a purchase, families should compare the listing with the school’s latest requirements, particularly for branded blazers, jumpers, sportswear and secondary-school ties. This becomes especially relevant as schools apply the new branded-item limit from September 2026.

What families can buy, sell or request

The marketplace is not limited to everyday shirts, trousers, skirts, blazers and jumpers. Families can also look for PE kit and Yondr pouches, or offer suitable items they no longer require.

This gives households two potential ways to cut costs: obtaining required items second-hand and passing on wearable clothing once a child has outgrown it. Keeping uniforms in circulation for longer can also reduce textile waste and prevent good-quality garments from going to landfill.

Councillor Emma Daniel, Brighton & Hove City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said the scheme supports household budgets while making uniform more affordable and sustainable. Families can find further information, download the app and browse available items through the Smarter Uniforms website.

Source: Brighton and Hove City Council