Sell My Uniform

Hello, I’m Janet Johnston, a former boarding school matron, part-time nanny, and the founder of Sell My Uniform. With over a decade spent working in Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland, I’ve witnessed first-hand the impact the spiralling costs of school uniforms can have on families. Aside from a school blazer, trousers, skirt, shirt, blouse, tie, there is the standard PE kit, the rugby kit, the soccer kit, the tennis kit, the hockey kit, not forgetting the Duke of Ed experience, the ski trips, musical instruments… the requirements are endless. No parent wants to restrict their child’s opportunities because they can’t afford it. “No parent wants to restrict their child’s opportunities because they can’t afford it.” After several conversations with concerned parents, the idea for Sell My Uniform was born. A resale platform where parents can search for sustainable, pre-loved items from Grammar and High Schools across Northern Ireland, at affordable prices. It’s also a space where parents can recycle their second-hand items by selling them on to other parents, and help fund the next stage, such as university expenses. When I was made redundant from my role as a matron in Victoria College Belfast as a result of Covid-19, my redundancy money gave me the opportunity to finally launch the platform in 2022. “My hope is that Sell My Uniform will celebrate the dawn of the uniform recycling revolution.” Uniform recycling not only makes financial sense for families, but it also reduces waste, building a more sustainable future while giving back to your community. I believe if given a choice, many NI parents will shop sustainably by opting for second-hand uniforms where possible. My goal is to make that choice a reality. My hope is that Sell My Uniform will reduce some of the social stigma attached to second-hand uniforms and celebrate the dawn of the uniform recycling revolution.