PARENTS across Glasgow threw away 14,000 school uniforms unnecessarily last year according to new research.

The figure contributes to 14 per cent of the 100,000 uniforms thrown away across Scotland in 2019 despite the fact they were in good condition.

A study, lead by My Nametags, found that more than one in five simply throw uniform items away once their children have outgrown them, even though they are still in a wearable condition.

When it comes to damaged items, nearly half of parents in the city would prefer to throw a garment away than attempt to repair it.

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The survey also found that the majority of families in Glasgow own brand-new items they have never worn.

When it comes to purchasing new clothes, the study shows that 71 per cent of parents always buy their children’s school uniform new with more than a third of Glaswegians stating they are more likely to buy second-hand for themselves.

When asked why they don’t shop second-hand for their children’s school uniform, nearly half of parents in Glasgow said they don’t like the thought of their children wearing previously owned clothing.

A further 40 per cent suggested that it is easier to buy new, and a fifth of mums and dads said they want their children to always have the latest things.

The study found that school uniforms are still replaced, on average, every 10 months – the equivalent to one school year.

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Dr Jo Hemmings, behavioural psychologist, said: “The word ‘second-hand’ has the connotation that somehow parents are not doing the best by their children. ‘Brand new’ has much more positive connotations. In addition to this, parents know that children can be very judgemental of each other in terms of clothing.

“In both instances, the parents’ attitudes towards second-hand clothing stem from their inherent sense of pride – a fear that people will assume that they can’t provide for their child effectively if they can’t dress them in a brand-new school uniform. This type of pride, which is primarily driven by other people’s opinions, is known as ‘hubristic pride’ and adds very little positive value to life.

“However, there is a second type of pride, ‘authentic pride’, which is centred around the fulfilment and achievements of yourself and those around you. This has a much more positive value and, importantly, cannot be achieved by wearing a new blazer. It can, however, be achieved by teaching children valuable lessons about the environment and the fact that the clothes they wear has no impact on their ability to ‘fit in’ or to be successful in life.”