Ridiculous uniform policy for secondary

[freakinthespreadsheets]

I live in a fairly poor working class area, former mining village. I don't even have secondary age kids but this has got me riled up.
The local secondary has been taken over by a MAT and introduced a new uniform. They say that the blazer, PE kit and jumper must be logo'd from the supplier (which i think is pretty standard everywhere) but also that every item MUST be Trutex branded. Shirts, trousers and the skirt (which you can't even find a dupe for if you wanted to as it's a silly tartan design). No supermarket brands allowed. The boys trousers must be sturdy or slim fit, girls can be slim fit only (so "fuck you" to girls with thick thighs then??)
They also insist the trousers must not be skin tight fitting and the skirt must be knee length, or detentions will be issued (but they're only allowing one design/fit, from one supplier, so if it doesn't fit a taller/chunkier teen then what are parents to do?).
Not to mention the fabrics are scratchy and kids with sensitive skin (I was one, and Mum had to order my uniforms online from a place that did skinkind fabrics) who might not get on with the plasticy Teflon fabrics.
I find myself fuming on behalf of these parents and teens - as a curvy, tall female with sensitive skin this would NOT do for me at all! Not even sure what my question is, I guess am I being unreasonable in my thinking that this is OTT and doesn't follow the new government guidance (which I know isn't fully compulsory but still)

Edit to add : in a poor working class area, to set a kid up to attend the local high school looks to be around £350 for uniform - the prices are awful, £35 for a skirt etc

You're arguing with yourself. That is the funny thing. Noone has said what you think they have.

But you definitely had us on! Arguing about the fashion shows and competition they have in Poland and it was all over H&M hoodies! 😂

I think your passion to convert me to believe that in no other country teens care for brands is amusing. Are you aware that people can have different perspective on things? Have a good evening

I'll leave you to argue with yourself...no one has said no teens in other countries care for brands....but please carry on laughing about something no one said 😂

@Needmorelego LVMH is a huge fashion company. It has many brands. These are aspirational brands and of course the French know about them. As you aren’t interested in fashion, you didn’t know. Others are interested and do follow what these companies produce.

Teens are definitely aware these high end brands are available and frequently buy copies from Zara and similar. Some won’t know they are, but Zara copies catwalk trends all the time. H&M and their numerous brands too. Teens might not be aware where the fashions come from but they certainly buy the high street copies of catwalk clothes. It’s then not odd that some want the real thing.

@TizerorFizz sorry I don't get your point.
(admittedly maybe because it's gone 1am...I'm tired but can't sleep)

Some - but it’s not enough sadly.

@Needmorelego Small
point - some people know about fashion and others don’t. Just because people on this thread don’t (except @Smoothie23 ) it doesn’t follow that others are not interested and know nothing. You only have to go to Paris and look at the queues to get into some shops to see it matters to some and these people have dc. Huge companies like LVMH influence what we all wear as it continually influences trends in cheaper shops. So although people think Zara is relatively cheap and cheerful, many of its influences are far more expensive companies. Zara is huge in its own right as is H&M.

@TizerorFizz I live in London so I see plenty of fashion retailers that are popular and have queues etc. I used to know someone that worked for a big name designer.
I know fashion is popular.
I still don't get your point.

DD’s likes clothes - did throughout school years - DS couldn’t care less what he wears. It didn’t mean that DD wore fashion to non uniform school. Most was regular chain store clothing. You only have to look around North America and Europe, school children are dressed in regular clothing, not fashion.

You really need to insist on it. As matter stand she is being discriminated against.

Yes, it’s a slow process though. What needs to happen is a uniform overhaul rather than reasonable adjustments to be honest. We have a report stating that school should source a tailor to make her a sensory-friendly uniform but I can’t see that happening. Reasonable adjustments merely make her stand out and fuel her anxiety.

@Chartreux yes "reasonable adjustments" is a bit of a joke sadly.

It tells you that your experience is not the only experience, and is clearly not universal.

I'm talking about 13 year olds, that's my DD's age group.

I don't think there is a point. Other than to say people like fashion which everyone has agreed on pages ago!

@SummerDays2020 Er? No they didn’t. They claimed not to know about fashion designers and said frequently dc don’t either . @Smoothie23 and me thought differently and trends would be seen without a uniform. That doesn’t mean I want expensive uniforms but at expensive schools you just cannot recognise the very rich from looking at dc. In state schools you can look at hair, shoes, nails, make up, coats etc. Non uniform would make it fairly obvious who has money.

Exactly @TizerorFizz.
All discussions with those here who claim that teens don't care for brands I see as pointless. Yeah, kids don't wear Nike and prefer Tesco's own brand of trainers- laughing stock. Simply, they don't know the data on what sells well among teens and base their opinions on their assumptions.

I can only base my comments on my DT’s, their classmates and cousins across several countries. They were glad to wear their shorts/tshirts or jeans/hoodie each day - as was I as it saved me a fortune.

@TizerorFizz @Smoothie23
SOME teens care about brands.
SOME care but their parents simply can't afford it so they don't have it.
SOME buy all their clothes from charity shops and create their own look.
SOME aren't interested in clothes at all so just wear plain t-shirts and trackies from Primark.
All teens are different....that's not exactly complicated to understand.

Come on, 11-year-olds understand that the discussion is about trends and not about minorities thinking otherwise.
Some research organisations earn a lot of money by researching teens' choices. I bet that mother standing next to the kid in Nike trainers says: oh, my son doesn't care.
Companies are very careful what a footballer or basketballer or Kayane West or other teen idol wears. The next day the shops are prepared to sell thousands of these

I was the teen buying my clothes from charity shops. Loved it in 6th form and I didn't have to wear uniform any more and went to school in my charity shop hippy clothes*. I remember actually one of the 6th formers used to write a column in the local newspaper, and she wrote a column at the beginning of 6th form about the wide variety of styles worn, so it wasn't just me, many had their own style.

*not long after that ponchos came back into style but I was way ahead with my mum's crocheted poncho she made in the late 60s

No, they didn't. What we said was our DC who go to non-uniform schools tend to just wear jeans and hoodies to school and wear their best gear after school/weekends/holidays.

Then you and Smoothie just went on and on about how people like fashion and teens like fashion etc. No one was disagreeing with you. You were just arguing with yourselves! 😂

This is hilarious. How many times do we have to say it - we know many teens like brands, all we have said is our personal experience of non-uniform schools is they tend to leave their branded clothes for the weekend.

We have a low income, my DS's friend was from a wealthy family - I had no idea they both just wore similar jeans and hoodies.

It still doesn't change the fact not all teens like brands. Yes, many do. And tend to keep those things for socialising. Some don't.

My DS like many autistic DC couldn't give a damn what the fashion is or what anyone else is wearing. He wears what he likes.

My 12yo, though she loves brands and has a few bits.

All these companies are wasting their money then? I don’t think so. I think some of you live in your own bubbles of similar people. Not my world.