Reviews & Articles

Shedding light on the most durable (and shoddy) products. Read our independent reviews, advice on living a calmer, less wasteful life, plus the latest news about our mission to end throwaway culture.

The checklist of Things I Didn’t Need - Buy Me Once UK

The checklist of Things I Didn’t Need

Last year I wrote a list of things I didn’t need. This year I want to see whether I stuck to it or not. My approach to minimalism isn’t just a toolkit to decluttering, but it is also about ensuring I’m not buying crap I don’t want or need. This list was the most powerful tool to stop those impulse buys.

The Inspirationals: Antonia Edwards, Founder of Upcyclist - Buy Me Once UK

The Inspirationals: Antonia Edwards, Founder of Upcyclist

Imagine if all the furniture in your home sparked joy every time you look at it, didn't cost you a small fortune to own, and helped save the planet. This is the vision Antonia Edwards saw when she launched Upcyclist in 2011. We spoke with Antonia about the environmental benefits of upcycling and her best tips for sourcing genuine upcycled goods and how to get started as a beginner!
Made in the UK: The new home of fast fashion? - Buy Me Once UK

Made in the UK: The new home of fast fashion?

The Guardian’s Sandra Laville this week delved deeper into Boohoo and their production practices. It’s emerged that the brand produce one of their hero pieces, a bandeau dress coming in at a whopping £5, at a factory in the UK. ‘Made in England’ has always been a badge of honour and carries with it an association of quality and craftsmanship, expertise and trust. But we have to wonder: when a dress costs the consumer £5, who’s left paying the rest of the bill?
The Best Baby Gifts: 14 High Quality, Ethical Ideas - Buy Me Once UK

The Best Baby Gifts: 14 High Quality, Ethical Ideas

This article contains 14 long lasting baby products we’ve found that are not only durable but are also ethically made and sustainable. These beautifully crafted items are guaranteed to last long enough to be passed down to younger siblings and for other little ones to enjoy.

Care 101: Easy Tips For Keeping your Jewellery Heirloom - Buy Me Once UK

Care 101: Easy Tips For Keeping your Jewellery Heirloom

Whilst fine jewellery can be a wonderful investment to pass down to your grandchildren, it will only make it that far if you take basic steps to care and maintain it in the meantime. Below is a roundup of some basic ways to care for fine jewellery, from cleaning and storing to avoiding loss (because nobody wants to have to break it to grandma that you lost her mother’s necklace.)
6 Products and Honest Tips for a Low-Waste, Healthy Period - Buy Me Once UK

6 Products and Honest Tips for a Low-Waste, Healthy Period

Women were happily using reusable cloth pads for centuries until certain companies began touting the idea that throwaway products were more “sanitary.” Whilst periods are many things – painful, emotional, hugely inconvenient – they’re the most natural thing in the world. Conversely, throwaway sanitary towels are often made using plastic that won’t biodegrade and nasty chemicals to make them smell nicer.
15 Meaningful Gifts for Foodies, Cooks and Bakers - Buy Me Once UK

15 Meaningful Gifts for Foodies, Cooks and Bakers

You would think that finding gifts for a foodie would be the easiest task in the world, but when it comes down to it someone with impeccable taste can be a nightmare to buy for. But never fear! BuyMeOnce has gone scouring the earth for the crème de la crème of kitchenware and accessories, so read on for an array of food-related gifts perfect for the foodie in your life. Because let’s face it, it’s in your best interests to encourage their love of cooking.
Not Your Grandmother’s Tights: Sustainable, Eco-friendly Swedish Stockings - Buy Me Once UK

Not Your Grandmother’s Tights: Sustainable, Eco-friendly Swedish Stockings

The phrase ‘sustainable hosiery’ has never been in anyone’s vocabulary – until now. Swedish Stockings is leading the way with their range of beautifully designed hosiery that’s also good for the environment. So without further ado, allow us to introduce you to the world’s first sustainable hosiery brand.
7 Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin in Winter - Buy Me Once UK

7 Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin in Winter

Here at BuyMeOnce we believe in taking brilliant care of your possessions so that they serve you well for a lifetime, and your skin is no exception. Harsh winter weather can be damaging, uncomfortable and downright painful on your skin. Whilst there are some brilliant skincare brands out there (our favourite is Neal’s Yard by a mile) many products are superfluous, and can even do more harm than good.

Hard as it might be, resist that urge to panic-buy cupboard-fulls of lotions and potions following that first gust of bitterly cold winter wind! This mix of hydrating, natural products, home remedies and top tips to live by will keep your skin healthy, happy and glowing through the whole winter.

Why Do Parents Love Wishbone Design Toys? - Buy Me Once UK

Why Do Parents Love Wishbone Design Toys?

Here at BuyMeOnce, we love Wishbone Design Studio because their ethos is aligned with the BuyMeOnce way of slowing down consumption by choosing durable, quality products that last a long time. But why do parents in more than 135 countries love Wishbone products?
Verdict: The Most Durable Jeans Brand in the World - Buy Me Once UK

Verdict: The Most Durable Jeans Brand in the World

We set out on a search to find the most durable jeans in the world. Jeans to last a lifetime rather than a year, jeans with a low cost-per-use, jeans to give you a feeling of ownership and individuality. In combing the world’s top brands we’ve separated the raw selvedge from the overcooked cotton and ended up back where we started: London.
Reupholstery: A Sustainable Solution for your Old Furniture - Buy Me Once UK

Reupholstery: A Sustainable Solution for your Old Furniture

1.6 million tonnes of bulky waste, largely furniture, are thrown to landfill each year in the UK. Around 50 percent of this is estimated to be functional with repair. This article is a plea for us to pause before we dispose and first give some consideration to having our furniture altered or reupholstered so that it better meets our needs.