Resources
Are Your School
Uniforms Ethical?
If you are the parent or carer of a school-age child, school uniforms make up a big part of your day-to-day life – from buying to washing, ironing and mending. But have you ever thought about whether the uniform your child wears is ethically made?
Amongst the busy mornings and tiring nights, it’s understandable if this idea has never occurred to you, but if this is the year you’ve decided to commit to conscious consumerism, then looking for ethically made school uniforms will be important to you.
In so many schools, decisions around purchasing begin with parent power. To help you approach your school and find out more about the manufacturing of your school uniforms, here are some ideas…
Ask the questions
You might start with a casual chat with the coordinator at your uniform shop, or you can email or contact your school’s Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C) to ask:
- Are these school uniforms procured from Ethical Clothing Australia accredited businesses?
- If so, what businesses manufactured the uniforms?
If the school uniforms have not been procured from Ethical Clothing Australia accredited businesses, you can ask the school:
- Why not? What policies do they have in place to ensure uniforms have been made ethically?
Advocate for change!
Our purchasing power has the ability to address exploitation and make the lives of everyday Australians better.
If your uniform manufacturer is not an Ethical Clothing Australia accredited business, you can petition for your school to use an ethical manufacturer for next year’s uniforms.
Approach your principal or the school P&C committee via email, set up a dedicated meeting and share your concerns. Refer them to our manufacturing directory or ask them to get in touch with Ethical Clothing Australia to find an ethically accredited manufacturer. Your input could help your school ensure their uniforms are made by garment workers in safe, ethical conditions.
