School Shop Local
The products listed here were selected by a member of the editorial staff. Should you choose to purchase a product through a link on this page, we may receive an affiliate commission.
School clothes delineate eras in a child's lifetime—from a kindergartener's first backpack, to a second-grader's first pair of "Big Kid" shoes, to a middle-schooler's first independently selected pair of jeans (which, despite objections from parents who experienced the early aughts firsthand, will probably be low-rise). These local businesses make school shopping easy without scrolling through those milestones.
Seattle School Clothes for Kids
Childish Things
Greenwood
Holding down the children’s resale game in North Seattle, Childish Things rocks a huge selection of shoes and a seasonally rotating selection of modern clothing for kids up to size 10—with some strict consignment policies that feature quality clothing parents can feel good about.
Flora and Henri
Pioneer Square
Owner and designer Jane Hedreen launched her line of exceptional, keep-forever children’s clothing in the late ’90s—now, styles up to 12Y are housed in a light-filled Pioneer Square showroom alongside similarly special grown-up fashions and home goods.
Chevron Short Puffer Silver, Flora and Henri Local
$388–$408
Image: Flora and Henri
Kids clothing, but make it luxurious: This goose down–filled puffer from Flora and Henri's children's line can be spotted across any playground.
Sugarlump
Madison Valley
Sugarlump’s complete range of high-quality, pre-used clothing—priced at about one-third of what it’d cost new—caters to offspring of all ages. Shoes even extend into smaller adult sizes, because dressing a middle schooler doesn’t need to be any harder than it already is.
My Three Little Birds
Alaska Junction
This expansive consignment store has the clean and organized feel of a high-end boutique, without the high-end prices. Some new stuff dots the lineup, too, so you can grab a gift and knock out school shopping all in one go.
Tsukihoshi Youth Rainbow Sneaker, My Three Little Birds Local
$70
Image: My Three Little Birds
Kids love the brightly colored, super-cozy sneakers from longtime Japanese shoe brand Tsukihoshi, specifically designed to mimic the feeling of playing barefoot by giving little toes extra room to wiggle. My Three Little Birds stocks tons of models, from these classic lightweight shoes to waterproof high-tops.
Seattle School Clothes for Teens
Girlfriend Collective
Online
For gym class, volleyball practice, or days when hard pants just aren’t in the cards, this local, sustainability-minded activewear company makes simple accessories and colorful gender-neutral clothing from size XXS–6XL. It’s online-only, but shops like Nordstrom, Evo, and Prism carry items in-store if try-ons are a must.
Please Recycle Backpack, Girlfriend Collective Local
$82
Image: Girlfriend Collective
Made from recycled plastic bottles (and recyclable itself, via Girlfriend Collective's ReGirlfriend program) for the climate activist in your life.
Millie Seattle
Queen Anne
Parents and teens don't agree on much, but owner (and font of inspiration) Kathryn Hide hits the trendy-local sweet spot with low-rise jeans, oversize sweatsuits, and graphic tees.
Chunks
Online
Locally designed cellulose acetate claw clips and colorful barrettes feel Y2K in the very best way.
Nordstrom Rack
Various Locations
Seattle loves claiming Nordstrom as its own—but we get even more excited about the department store's bargain offshoot, which features a robust and inexpensive juniors department. (Check out our list of the best and worst Nordstrom Rack locations in the Seattle area before you go.)
Likelihood
Capitol Hill
This Pike/Pine boutique centers around fashion-forward sneakers, with the exclusive releases and high-demand collaborations to match, and its menswear-focused streetwear selection is among the city’s best.
Jogger X81 Black/Glacier Grey, Asics Local
$100
Image: Likelihood
How Asics rose from a gym shoe for uncool dads to one of the top brands among sneakerheads is, truthfully, beside the point—what matters is that the newest pairs, like this jogger-inspired basic, are likely in stock at Likelihood.
Seattle School Supplies
University Book Store
University of Washington
The University of Washington's storied bookstore isn't just for college students. For a local supply selection that rivals Target's, come here.
MochiThings
Online
Cute and functional is the name of the game at this couple-owned online stationery shop, headquartered in Seattle with additional offices in Seoul.
Archive 6-Ring A5 Zipper Binder, MochiThings Local
$38
Image: MochiThings
MochiThings sells several six-ring binder options with refills to suit various needs, from weekly planners to grid notebooks. (Note that this cute and colorful see-through version comes empty.)
Paper Hammer
Queen Anne
The Seattle- and Tieton-based designers at Paper Hammer keep things classic with hand-bound cloth notebooks, unique pocket-size notepads, and simple weekly planners.
Snerd
Online
Bullet journalers, rejoice: The small-but-mighty selection of sustainable notebooks from Ballard-based Snerd comes with dot-grid paper to help keep graphic elements in line.
Montreal Eco-Friendly Journal, Snerd Local
$16
Image: Snerd
Snerd's big, bold designs come from a surprisingly tiny studio run by founders Nate Rasmussen and David Stegmeier.
