Calling all independent schoolwear retailers!

The Schoolwear Show is set to return on October 6 and 7 at Cranmore Park Conference and Event Centre at Solihull.

It’s that time of the year again where independent schoolwear retailers are invited to gather, network and socialise at the annual Schoolwear Show.

With the event set to take place from October 6 to 7 at Cranmore Park Conference and Event Centre, attendees have much to look forward to, including seminars from Marie Bradburn and Matthew Easter. The Schoolwear Show is dedicated solely to independent schoolwear retailers and provides opportunities for attendees to meet existing suppliers face to face, view the latest product innovations, source new suppliers and plan back to school campaigns.

The show is organised on an entirely voluntary basis, with the directors giving up their time to organise the show. The key companies which own The Schoolwear Show are: David Luke, One+All, Falcon Sportswear, William Turner, and Banner.

A look at the owning companies

David Luke is a schoolwear supplier which has a keen focus on providing eco-uniform, with its first fully recyclable school blazers and backets having launched back in spring 2023. In the time it has incorporated the use of recycled polyester in its Eco-Uniform range, it has prevented over 46 million two-litre plastic bottles from entering the landfill.

Banner has been providing industry-leading service since 1851, supplying uniform and sportswear with a focus on sustainability and doing right by the planet. As one of the largest schoolwear suppliers in the UK, it has extensive knowledge of the industry and is passionate about making every student feel and look great.

Since 2020, One+All has been a 100% employee owned and Certified B Corp business The company supplies a range of products including; blazers, ties, school bags, sweatshirts, polos and coats.

Founded in 1975, Falcon Sportswear will be celebrating 50 years of supplying sportswear and offering expertise within the field of sporting apparel. The company prides itself on delivering over 50% of its stock-backed ranges which are made from recycled polyester.

William Turner has specialised in producing premium quality school ties and accessories in the UK, ever since its inception in 1969. While the company stocks the widest range of stock ties in the UK, it has also expanded its product offerings to include a variety of bags, winterwear, hair accessories, water bottles and much more.

More than just schoolwear

Though the event is designed to showcase everything schoolwear, this also extends beyond the realm of garments.

Other key names to keep in mind at this year’s exhibition are Eskimo EPOS which specialises in point-of-sale software solutions, Madeira UK which will be presenting its portfolio of embroidery consumables for professional garment decorators, National Weaving which specialises in premium woven and printed labels, STABILO International which will be showcasing its high-quality stationary products, and Top to Toe which specialises in epos software and epos hardware.

What are the benefits of school-specific uniform?

The Schoolwear Show remains an important event in the calendar for the independent schoolwear retailer, for it offers the perfect opportunity to discuss recent developments and government policy that affects school uniform.

With the Schoolwear Association’s recent briefing on the importance of school-specific uniform, the question of school uniform’s future remains at the forefront of discussion.

According to a survey carried out by the association, 88% of school leaders say school-specific uniforms reduce physical inequalities between pupils, and 37% have observed any changes in pupil absenteeism on non-school uniform days compared to regular uniform days.

Labour’s imposed limitations

Earlier this summer, the Labour Party came to power after more than 14 years of Conservative governance. In its manifesto, Labour highlighted its intentions to lower the cost of school uniform by limiting the amount of logoed uniform. In the manifesto, the party stated ‘it will also bring down the cost of school by limiting the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require’.

The current guidance on school uniforms from the Department of Education was issued under the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021. What this means is the newly appointed Labour government can update the guidance without the requirement of new legislation. The Act states: ‘The Secretary of State may from time to time revise guidance issued under this section’. This means that the number of items allowed to be branded can be potentially amended at any point.

P&P assistant editor, Cameron Beech asked Mark Woolgar, one of the directors of The Schoolwear Show, what his thoughts were about the benefits of school-specific uniform, to which he replied: “Labour’s policy to limit school-specific uniforms poses challenges. Vague descriptions can lead to inconsistent brands and styles, highlighting social differences.

“Cheaper uniforms wear out faster, increasing overall costs. Restrictions also make it harder for teachers to manage dress codes and behaviour, and small uniform retailers could be threatened by large supermarkets. Pupils might feel pressured to wear in-fashion brands, adding costs for parents.”

When asked how the new government’s aim to limit school-specific uniforms will affect schoolwear retailers and how this will impact local school uniform shops on the high street, Mr Woolgar said: “There is still a lot unknown in terms of timing of any limit being brought it and what the number of limited items will be. There is potential that with fewer branded items required, schools might reduce the number of sportwear items required and parents might turn to larger supermarkets and online retailers for generic uniform items.

“However, there is a concern that cheaper, non-branded items may not be as durable, leading to more frequent replacements and potentially higher long-term costs for families. Also, local independent uniform shops often have long-standing relationships with local schools and communities. A shift away from branded uniforms might weaken these ties and reduce the sense of community support.”

These potential changes and more will be covered in the seminar sessions hosted by experts from the schoolwear industry, which is why a visit to The Schoolwear Show is essential for independent retailers.

• To register, click here