Rennes: he opens a clothing exchange shop for children from 0 to 3 years old

In Rennes, a father left his job to create a children's clothing store. On site, parents can exchange items for free and make a gesture for the planet.

When you have a young child, it is not always easy to find him clothes . Indeed, a baby does not keep clothes for long and you have to find new ones frequently as he grows up. But what to do with clothes once used and where to buy new ones without breaking the bank too much?

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To answer this question, Martin Letellier opened a shop in the city center of Rennes. This young father of two children named his business Bibou, which responds to a very specific operation. The concept of the store: allow parents to come and exchange clothes or toys for children aged 0 to 3, in order to simplify their daily lives.

“We waste a lot of time looking for clothes that our little ones will wear for three months. And then, at some point, you have to choose between simplicity, budget and reasoned consumption » , explained Martin Letellier.

A clothing swap shop

Thus, parents can bring into the store clothes that are too small for their baby as well as toys that no longer interest them, and get what they want in return.

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No brand is favored in the store, and all clothes are in good condition. If the clothes offered are priceless, a subscription system is set up in the store. For example, it is possible to take out a monthly subscription for 20 euros which allows unlimited exchanges.

“What I wanted to recreate is what we see in certain families between brothers, sisters or cousins ​​who divide up the clothes that the adults can no longer wear” , explained Martin.

An ecological approach

Previously a computer engineer, Martin left everything to create this shop. He had this idea out of ecological concern, after having been alerted by an IPCC report published in 2021.

“When my son was born, I read a draft IPCC report , he explained. He said that life on Earth as we know it will inevitably be transformed by climate change when children born in 2021 turn 30, or even sooner. I immediately thought of my son and told myself that I had to act. This realization prompted me to do some research. I wanted to get involved in a circular economy project that corresponds to my values. »

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Indeed, children have a strong environmental impact in terms of clothing. In three years, a baby usually changes the size of clothes eight times, which he wears only for a few weeks.

“I learned that on average a child wears 300 pieces of clothing in their first three years. When you know that the manufacture of a bodysuit requires 452 liters of fresh water, that 4 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away each year in Europe and only 20% are recycled, the calculation is quickly done. , said Martin.

Last June, Martin did a first test with his shop, which he left open for a month, to see if the concept would work. To the delight of this father, the customers were there!