David Burgess, Chairman of the Schoolwear
Association, comments:
“It goes without saying that for those operating
within the Schoolwear supply chain, ethical considerations should always be a
top priority, which is why our members sign up to a code of conduct, which
commits them to complying with government regulations regarding employment law
and health and safety issues, not only those relating to their own business, but
also the manufacturing companies that they use.
Our members are strongly encouraged to
only source from factories that comply with Worldwide Responsible Accredited
Production (WRAP) or similar accredited schemes and that the materials used in
the production of the garments are free from potentially harmful chemicals.
For parents, school uniform offers excellent
value, but when ordering or purchasing school uniform, price is not the only
issue and we need to think about, not just the children who will be wearing the
garments, but also the method of manufacture and the working conditions of the
people who have made them. It is important that the welfare of the workforce is
considered in the choice of the supply chain and our members make every effort
to ensure that their sources are ethical and environmentally responsible.
We cannot avoid the topic of price, as
this is very important, but it does not pay to clothe our children in cheap Schoolwear
that doesn’t always do the job. When you are talking about garments that your
child is wearing for up to ten hours a day or more, good value is not
necessarily the cheapest clothing on the rail in the budget outlet. It is even
worse if it comes with a hidden price tag, because ethical considerations have
been overlooked such as the mistreatment of poor families in developing
countries.
Of course, for disadvantaged families in
the UK, the cost of uniform can be a consideration. Many suppliers provide
help, to the schools that they serve, for example, by donating uniforms to needy
families or helping to provide other solutions for those who need them. At the
Schoolwear Association, we believe that diligent parents want to be able to provide
the very best school uniform for their child, which is why we try to offer a
service to schools to help make sure that all children are clothed the same
regardless of income, size or location.
There is pressure from some quarters to
simply make uniforms cheaper, but we must make sure that this does not come at
the expense of quality or durability. It is common sense that a uniform that is
made well does the job better and offers real value for money because it lasts
longer. There are better ways to make uniform affordable to everyone, to fit
all sizes, all year round.”